Dorsal rays VII+I,9; anal rays II,8; pectoral rays 14-15 (rarely 13); tubed lateral-line scales 8-13; median predorsal scales 4-5; total gill rakers 3-4 + 10-12; developed gill rakers 1 + 9-11; gill rakers on ceratobranchial 8 (rarely 7 or 9). Body depth 2.6-3.1 in SL and body width 1.9-2.2 in the depth; eye diameter 2.8-3.6 in head length; first dorsal spine 2.5-4.0 in second spine; second dorsal spine 4.0-5.4, spine of second dorsal fin 3.5-4.4, and second anal spine 4.7-5.9, all in head length; pectoral-fin length 4.6-5.1 and pelvic-fin length 3.9-4.6 in SL; caudal-peduncle length 1.3-2.1 in distance between pelvic spine insertion and anal-fin origin; light organ 1.1-1.4 in caudal peduncle length. Preopercular edge fully serrate, with 20-38 (usually more than 25) serrations; preopercular ridge smooth. Scales spinoid; lateral-line scales with vertical series of papillae. Tip of light organ on each side of tongue bound by membrane (Ref. 90035).