Description: Dorsal profile of body deeply convex from snout tip to end of dorsal-fin base; slightly concave to straight on caudal peduncle; ventral profile convex from lower jaw to end of anal-fin base; nearly straight on caudal peduncle; caudal peduncle slightly deeper in males; anterior portion of body laterally compressed, becoming more compressed behind anal-fin origin (Ref. 123968). Dorsal fin rounded and elongated in males, tip reaching caudal-fin base; its origin in vertical between 2nd and 3rd anal-fin rays; anal fin rounded and elongated in males, tip reaching region just before caudal-fin base; dorsal and anal fins not elongated in females; caudal fin rounded in males and elliptical in females; pectoral fin elliptical, its posterior margin reaching vertical just behind pelvic-fin base; pelvic-fin length in males longer than in females, reaching between urogenital papilla aperture and first anal-fin ray; short in females, tip reaching region just before urogenital opening; pelvic-fin bases medially separated by interspace broader than width of each pelvic-fin base; dorsal-fin rays 10-12; anal-fin rays 12-15; caudal-fin rays 26-30; pectoral-fin rays 12-13; pelvic-fin rays 6 (Ref. 123968). Frontal squamation G-patterned; head neuromasts placed in shallow grooves or on same level as head surface; cephalic lateral line system: anterior portion of supraorbital sensory canal open, with 3 neuromasts, anteriormost one anteriorly displaced from other 2; posterior portion open, with 3 exposed neuromasts; anterior infra-orbital canal open, with 3 exposed neuromasts; median portion of infra-orbital region with series of 7-9 minute neuromats; posterior infra-orbital canal closed, with 2 pores; preopercular canal closed in both dorsal and ventral portins with 5 pores; mandibular canal represented by 2 neuromasts, 1 in vertical through corner of mouth and other anteriorly positioned in lower jaw ventral portion (Ref. 123968). Longitudinal series of scales 20-22; transverse series of scales 6; circumpeduncular scales 10; predorsal scales 11-13 (Ref. 123968). Mesethmoid and vomer absent; frontal, anterior margin slightly extends anteriorly between nasals; parasphenoid medial process short, not contacting pterosphenoid; anterior margin rounded; lateral ethmoid overlaps anterior portion of parasphenoid; supraoccipital posterior process long, reaching first vertebra; lachrymal with posteroventral extension; premaxillary and dentary teeth well developed, conical; outer row with larger well-spaced teeth; retroarticular triangular or subtriangular, about same depth and length of anguloarticular ventral arm; dentary deep; dorsal process of maxilla broad, overlapping premaxilla ascending process; ventral process greatly reduced, consisting of rounded ventromedial bulge; ventral arm of maxilla broad, laterally expanded; premaxilla ascending process medial surface with convex profile; entopterygoid posterior portion and sympectic bone keel deep; opercle triangular, anterodorsal process present; quadrate posterior margin with deep concavity; anterior process of anterior ceratohyal not extending ventrally to ventral hypohyal; urohyal ventral margin straight to slightly concave; first and second basibranchial lateral bone flanges unexpanded; basihyal cartilaginous portion shorter than osseous portion; fourth ceratobranchial anterior third portion with teeth; second pharyngobranchial plate with teeth; base of first epibranchial broad, more than three times width of anterior portion; supracleithrum rounded; posttemporal rodlike, ventral arm absent; cleithrum bone flange not covering scapula foramen; cleithrum posterodorsal flap rounded; ventral postcleithrum slender, width similar to adjacent first pleural rib; basipterygium posterior process shorter than medial process; anal-fin proximal radials similar in length and parallel to each other; hypurals completely fused; small gap seen in only one specimen; parhypural proximal end overlapping preural centrum (Ref. 123968). Total vertebrae 24-26, precaudal 10-11, and caudal 14-15; first proximal radial of dorsal fin between neural spine of vertebrae 9 and 11; first proximal radial of anal fin between pleural rib of vertebrae 9 and 10 (Ref. 123968). Gill rakers on first branchial arch 7-8; branchiostegal rays 5 (Ref. 123968).

Colouration: Colouration in alcohol: overall colouration of body pale brown-yellow with inconspicuous light brown reticulate pattern along flank scale margins; anterior portion of scales with concentrated chromatophores; dorsal portion of body dark brown, densely pigmented; ventral surface scarcely pigmented; pale brown chromatophores along whole midbody line of flank, forming distinct inconspicuous line; head overall colouration yellowish brown; brown chromatophores on dorsum of head, lower jaw, and preorbital region, forming distinct darker region; iris silver, darker close to pupil; dark pigment concentrated on dorsal margin of eye; anal and dorsal fins with melanophores forming conspicuous transversal bands in both males and females; grey zone in fin margin of males; caudal fin with three to four inconspicuous bands in males, restricted to middle caudal-fin rays, margins grey with several small chromatophores; conspicuous in females extending from dorsal to ventral margin of fin; pelvic fin with melanophores sparsely concentrated on fin membrane in females; dark brown in males; pectoral fin hyaline; female urogenital opening pocket scales with dark brown chromatophores (Ref. 123968). Colouration in life of males: side of body grey, with inconspicuous light brown reticulate pattern on flank scales, and bright blue colouration on some of flank scales; anterior portion of flank, just behind pectoral fin, with golden background colouration; dorsum greyish brown; ventral surface white between region just after lower jaw and pelvic-fin insertion; iridescent blue from pelvic-fin insertion to caudal peduncle; side of head predominantly bluish silver, dorsal portion dark brown; iris silver, light yellow close to pupil; eye bright silver on dorsal portion; lower jaw and preorbital region dark brown-grey, forming distinct horizontal stripe; pectoral fin hyaline; pelvic fin brown with dark chromatophores; anal and dorsal fins with brown transverse bands, most anterior bands restricted to ray insertions, posteriorly bands in sequence extending along fin rays; distinct light brown to grey zone, between transversal bands and fins border; caudal fin brownish grey with three to four vertical bands, melanophores forming light brown to grey zone close to fin margin (Ref. 123968). Colouration in life of females: side of body grey, with inconspicuous light brown reticulate pattern on flank scales, and bright blue colouration scattered on some of flank scales; light yellowish brown blotch on region just posterior to pectoral-fin insertion; dorsum yellowish brown; ventral surface white between lower jaw and pelvic-fin insertion; iridescent blue from pelvic-fin insertion to end of caudal-fin base; and grey from end of caudal-fin base to caudal peduncle; side of head predominantly bright bluish silver, ventral portion white, dorsal portion yellowish brown, postorbital region and opercle with distinct bright blue blotch; iris bluish grey, light yellow close to pupil; eye bright silver on dorsal portion; lower jaw and preorbital region dark brown-grey, forming distinct horizontal stripe; pectoral and pelvic fins hyaline; dorsal and anal fins light yellow-orange with transversal bands; caudal fin light yellow with 3 to 5 vertical bands (Ref. 123968).