A moderate-sized species distinguished by the following set of adult characters: length of pre-second dorsal 61.9-63.2% TL, 6.6-8.4 times the dorsal-caudal space; length of pre-first dorsal 30.4-32.0% TL; interdorsal space 18.2-20.6% TL, 2.2-2.6 times dorsal-caudal space; dorsal-caudal space 7.5-9.4% TL, 3.2-4.0 in pectoral-pelvic space; long and robust head, its length 22.4-24.6% TL, 2.7-3.0 times mouth width, its width 13.2-14.0% TL, 4.5-4.8 in pre-second dorsal length; width at anterior of nostrils 7.7-7.9% TL; long snout, its preoral length 11.4-12.4% TL, 2.0-2.2 times head height at anterior of mouth, 1.3-1.5 times mouth width, the horizontal preorbital length 7.1-8.2% TL, the horizontal prenarial length 4.4-5.4% TL; large mouth, its width 7.8-8.5% TL; moderately large pectoral fin, its anterior margin 11.9-12.4% TL, 2.3-2.4 times base length; large caudal fin, the dorsal caudal margin 19.1-19.5% TL; 2.1-2.5 times dorsal-caudal space; moderately large and tall first dorsal fin, its height 6.2-7.0% TL, with moderately robust spine, the base width 0.9-1.0% TL. The dorsal fins of juveniles have a distinct blackish oblique blotch anteriorly and a white blotch on the upper posterior margin; in adults a less distinct dark blotch, often apparent in fresh specimens and with a white blotch restricted to a narrow white posterior margin (occasionally indistinct in largest specimens). Adults with flank denticles flat, block-like, not overlapping, and crenulate. Females and immature males with upper teeth that are strongly oblique, similar in shape, but much smaller than lower teeth; in mature males upper teeth are erect, upright, becoming only slightly oblique laterally. 37-39/30 or 31 (n=3) tooth row count; 117-126 (mean 121.6, n=20) total vertebral centra; 53-59 (56.4, n=21) monospondylous precaudal centra; 29-37 (32.7, n=21) diplospondylous precaudal centra; 85-94 (89.1, n=21) precaudal centra (Ref. 76933).