This species is distinguished from all its congeners by the following characters: a small maximum body size (to 22.0 cm SL (vs. 52.0-140.0 cm SL) and the adipose-fin origin markedly posterior to the anal-fin origin (vs. at vertical through or very slightly posterior to it); with an ovoid unculiferous plaques on dorsal surface of head; lateral margin of frontal not significantly deflected dorsally; eye diameter 11-15% HL; interorbital distance 23-28% HL; head width 18.3-22.3% SL; head depth 11.1-14.1% SL; filamentous extensions to first pectoral-fin element reaching to anus; dorsal spine width 10.6-13.9 times in its length; body depth at anus 8.7-12.0% SL; neural spines of the 4-6 vertebrae immediately anterior to adipose fin distally flattened but not forming series of prominent bumps along dorsal midline; length of adipose-fin base 10.8-13.0% SL; caudal-peduncle length 19.0-22.4% SL; caudal-peduncle depth 3.2-4.2% SL; preanal vertebrae 19-20 and total 39-40 vertebrae (Ref. 123776).