This species can be distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: A 136-159; P 14-16; C 14-17; precaudal vertebrae 16-17; total number of vertebrae 68-77; 5th infraorbital present as a tubular laterosensory canal segment; ossified lateral ethmoid; the number of scales above the lateral line at the midbody 7-8; number of scales along the lateral line 61-70; mouth length 36.6-47.2% of HL; tail length 13.3-24.2% of LEA; tail depth 8.2-15.3% of CL. Colouration: body and head dark brown; narrow, pale, longitudinal band extending from chin along mid-dorsal surface of head and body to, or slightly posterior of, vertical through tip of pectoral fin; pectoral- and anal-fins rays dark brown with translucent interradial membranes; pale band encircling base of caudal fin; caudal fin pale at base and dark brown posteriorly (Ref. 93867).