This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: pectoral-fin rays 17; lateral-line scales 47; antrorse spine below eye absent; dorsal scaled area on head reaching anteriorly to between anterior margin of eye and the anterior nostril; bony opercular ridge and lower limb of preopercle are without scales; third anal-fin spine is longer than the second; with a narrow body, with depth at dorsal, pelvic, and anal fin origins 29.2, 29.5 and 26.6% of SL, respectively; caudal-peduncle depth 10.4% of SL; head length 29.9% of SL; upper part of pectoral-fin base has a reddish blotch when fresh; with 2 dark bands across dorsum of snout; body below lateral line has a dark longitudinal band, without diagonal lines; blotches or lines absent on central area of caudal fin (Ref. 120866).