This species is distinguished by the following characters: D 9; A 9; pectoral rays 17; body depth between origins of dorsal and anal fins, 2.6 in SL; head length (HL) 2.3 in SL; fleshy pigmented skin interorbital width 3.1 in HL; gill opening 8.2 in HL; origin of anal fin posterior to rear base of dorsal fin 3.1 in SL, preanal length 1.2 in SL; longest dorsal ray 2.3 in HL; color when alive, body pale tan with orangish brown stripes; head with uniformly orangish brown snout anteriorly, at middle of snout about 4 narrow, orangish brown stripes radiate posteriorly below eye, 3 stripes extend posteriorly from rear margin of eye, a stripe runs along ridge of erectile tissue on top of head, at deepest part of body there are about 14 narrow orangish brown stripes, middle 5 of those stripes continue to base of caudal fin where they abruptly end (Ref. 95278).