This species is distinguished by the following characters: 18-19 segmented dorsal fin rays;

(19-)20-21(-22) segmented anal fin rays; 3 segmented pelvic fin rays; simple, fusiform supraorbital tentacle, shorter than eye diameter; head with dark pigmentation, with a deep dark area between the central cheeks, the upper orbital rim and the corner of the mouth; dark snout and central three-fifths of the upper lip, other parts light; lower sides of head with dark pigmentation, darkest in the central part of the anterior half; central part of posterior half of lower sides of head with a transversely oval, black blotch, its size about half eye diameter; pelvic fin base black directly behind the opercular membrane; a row of 7 dark, longitudinal, oval blotches with an even darker centre at the sides of body (Ref. 76835).