Anterior nostril pierced on front side of a flap; processus dentiformis present; no median notch in upper lip, a median interruption in lower lip; a median notch in lower jaw; cheeks slightly swollen in specimens larger than about 70 mm SL; low dorsal adipose keel on caudal peduncle; lateral line complete; anus about 1-2 eye diameters in front of anal-fin origin; 7-8.5 branched dorsal-fin rays; 5.5 branched anal-fin rays; caudal fin emarginate, with 9+8 branched rays; axillary pelvic lobe present; body with 13-17 bars, wider than interspaces, very regular on sides, becoming irregular along dorsal midline; in predorsal area, flank bars not reaching dorsal midline; space between bars occupied by irregularly-shaped large blotches leaving only very narrow pale spaces between them and bars; black bar at caudal-fin base not reaching ventral midline, its upper extremity bent forward; dorsal-fin base with a blackish band, with or without one or several paler or hyaline spots in it; caudal fin red in life (Ref. 36949).