This species is distinguished by the following characters: maxilla short, 21.6-22.3% of SL,

its posterior tip not reaching to posterior margin of opercle; first supramaxilla elongated, longer than half length of the second; lower jaw rather long, 19.7-20.3% of SL; abdomen is covered with 5-7 + 9-10 = 14-17 keeled scutes; absence of scutes anterior to pectoral fin; 1UGR (upper gill rakers of first gill arch) 18-20, 1LGR (lower gill rakers of first gill arch) 23-26, 1TGR (total gill rakers of first gill arch) 41-46; 2UGR 14-16, 2LGR 22-25, 2TGR 37-40; 3UGR 12-13, 3LGR 14-16, 3TGR 26-29; 4UGR 11-12, 4LGR 12-13, 4TGR 23-25; absence of distinct black blotches on dorsal fin; caudal peduncle rather narrow, 9.9-10.6% (mean 10.2%) of SL and long, 9.1-10.1% of SL; pre-dorsal-fin long, 50.7-51.8% of

SL; pre-anal-fin length short, 65.6-66.9% of SL; dorsal-fin base short, 10.4-10.9% of SL; distance between pelvic-fin insertion and anal-fin origin short, 20.5-21.7% of SL; pectoral fin short, 17.1-18.2% of SL; pelvic fin short, 12.4-13.4% of SL; snout short, 4.7-4.9% of SL; body rather elongated, 23.5-25.3% (mean 24.5%) of SL (Ref. 129422).