This species is distinguished by the following characters: pectoral-fin rays 16; body deep (body depth at pelvic-fin origin 19.8-21.9% of SL); trunk relatively long (pre-anal length 57.4-60.1% of SL; pre-anal-fin length 62.2-64.6% of SL); the snout blunt and steep. Colouration: two dark brown, transverse bands on posterior half of the body; pectoral fin with 1-8 black spots along each ray forming vertical bars; in males, the isthmus, gular region, and pelvic fins are densely pigmented; isthmus and gular region of female almost cream or white, usually with a brownish blotch on gular region; pelvic fin almost translucent, but with a few melanophores along soft rays in female; one diamond-shaped dark brown blotch from caudal-fin base to proximal part of caudal fin; posterior half of branched caudal-fin rays with 3-5 small black spots forming thin vertical bars (Ref. 125666).