This species is distinguished from all its congeners by the following set of characters: body deep and compressed; D XI,10; the first spine rudimentary (only 1 dorsal-fin spine on first dorsal pterygiophore), second to fifth spines (4 or 5) very elongate and flattened in juveniles 10-20 cm SL (second spine often reaching beyond last dorsal soft ray, becoming shorter and reaching 1st soft dorsal-fin ray base in specimens ca. 30 cm SL); second spine longer than head length, reaching beyond first soft dorsal-fin ray; orbit diameter clearly less than suborbital depth; pupil diameter subequal to or clearly less than preorbital length (adults, ca. 30 cm SL; juveniles, ca. 20 cm SL); rear margin of the upper jaw reaches a vertical beyond anterior rim of pupil; body bars faint reddish and not present at ca. 20 cm SL; all fins reddish hyaline (Ref. 124569).