This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VI + I,10; A I,9; pectoral-fin rays 12?14, the 2 upper rays with free tips; pelvic fins I,5, joined to form a disc which is emarginate (the shortest branches of fifth ray about 2/3?3/4 length of longest branches of fourth ray), no pelvic frenum; naked predorsal area and area at base of first dorsal fin; longitudinal scale series 26-29; transverse scale series counted forward 6-7, reaching naked area at first dorsal-fin base; transverse scale series counted backward 7-8; circumpeduncular scale rows 11-12; head with 7 transverse suborbital rows of sensory papillae; without tentacle above upper eye margin; anterior nostril is tubular, without flap at its tip, posterior nostril pore-like; semi-translucent body with small scattered orange-yellow spots and speckles, spots in predorsal area and a few midlaterally on body containing black dots; ventral part of body with a row of internal white spots above anal-fin base and on caudal peduncle; head and prepectoral area with small scattered orange to yellowish brown spots; first dorsal fin with 2 broad white bands at the base of fin and distally, middle of fin hyaline densely dotted with melanophores; colour of preserved specimen opaque white to yellowish with sparse melanophores (Ref. 116571).