This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: pectoral fin and distal portions of soft dorsal, caudal, and anal fins are tan to brown in life and when preserved; numerous dark spots on head and trunk; spots on head posterior to horizontal through center of orbit usually prominent, round or oblong, and one or more usually equal in size to or larger than diameter of pupil; posterior portion of interorbital region usually with 2 pairs of spots (sometimes joined as a stripe), spots directly on or abutting orbital rim; belly and caudal fin usually without spots; D III or IV (nearly bimodal), total dorsal-fin elements modally 26; pectoral fin rays modally 16; total caudal-fin rays modally 25; lower jaw extending anteriorly beyond upper jaw, mean difference between distance from tip of lower jaw to orbit and tip of upper jaw to orbit 4% HL; caudal peduncle relatively wide, average depth 13% SL (Ref. 89885).