This species is distinguished from all its congeners by the following set of characters: body deep and compressed; D XI,10 (rarely X,11); first dorsal-fin spine rudimentary (one dorsal-fin spine on first dorsal pterygiophore), the second to sixth spines (usually 5, rarely 4) are much elongated and flattened in juveniles 15-25 cm SL (second spine often reaching beyond level of last dorsal soft rays, shorter and reaching first soft dorsal-fin ray base in specimens of ca. 30 cm SL); orbit diameter clearly less than suborbital depth; pupil diameter greater than preorbital length in specimens less than 20 cm SL, but pupil diameter is clearly less than preorbital length (more noticeable in specimens greater than approx. 30 cm SL; the rear margin of upper jaw extends to a vertical beyond orbit diameter; body bars reddish, often present to 25 cm SL; all fins reddish hyaline (Ref. 124569).