This species under subgenus Callionymus (Spinicapitichthys) is distinguished by the following characters: with preopercular spine have a very short, straight main tip; curved points 4-5 on its dorsal margin, a strong antrorse spine at its base; small serrae 5-8 at its ventral margin; dorsal margin of the eye with a tentacle, dorsal fin in the male without filaments, the first spine longest; D2 8; A 7; the first dorsal fin in the male zebra-striped, with 4 vertical dark bands on 1st-4th membranes (Ref. 129449).