Diagnosis: centre of flank with dark, vertically oblong spot (sometimes obscured in darkly pigmented specimens)(Ref. 81650).

Description: snout relatively blunt; head profile straight or gently convex; mouth moderately protrusible; soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins finely scaled nearly to tips; 14-16 scales in upper lateral line, 8-13 in lower; 2.5-3 above upper lateral line, 7-9 below; 3-8 serrations above opercular notch, none within notch, 2-6 serrations below, 0-20 subopercular serrations, interopercle and preopercle entire (Ref. 81650).

Coloration: body and head medium brown or grey; centre of flank with dark, vertically oblong spot (sometimes obscured in darkly pigmented specimens); membrane in opercular notch frequently black; rare specimens with narrow, faint vertical bars on flanks; pelvic fin short and unpigmented in adults; in juveniles (up to ca. 30 mm SL), body and head dark brown broken by lighter mottling; dark band runs from snout through eye to opercular border; dark bar on underside of chin; some specimens also with additional dark streaks radiating from posterior border of orbit; mid-lateral spot surrounded by a light tan ring or situated in a light tan bar extending from dorsal fin origin to venter; pelvic fin of juveniles with dark pigmentation near its base; living specimens are various shades of brown (Ref. 81650).