This species is distinguished from its congenes by the following set of characters: predorsal area with cycloid scales, 3-15 predorsal scales on predorsal midline; vertebrae 10 + 16 = 26; males with low first dorsal fin, not extending posteriorly to origin of second dorsal fin when adpressed; third spine of first dorsal fin longest; lateral and ventral sides of belly with ctenoid and small cycloid scales, respectively; absence of posterior oculoscapular canal and preopercular canal; sensory-papillae rows on cheek arranged longitudinally, with no transverse rows; first dorsal fin with a single longitudinal row of vertically elongate dark markings; no dark large circle or quadrangle markings (spots or blotches) at anterior part of first dorsal fin; the lower half of caudal fin without reddish orange coloration; caudal fin have some vertical rows of dark dots in both sexes (Ref. 119678).