This species is distinguished by the following characters: belly, pectoral-fin base, and cheek naked, spiny preorbital bone in adults, snout blunt, 3 rows of scales above rear pored scales, first two rows about equal-sized, relatively short first dorsal fin (all characters of E. boehlkei complex); fourth and fifth body bars similarly dark and often much darker than preceding bars (which are about equal in intensity); accessory interspace bar or darkened patch between the fourth and fifth body bars; fifth bar sometimes narrower than the 4-5 interspace; 2 broad solid dark bands on the caudal fin; second dorsal fin with three rounded dark spots on the membranes near the spine bases and thin band of fine speckling on the outer rim of fin; anal fin with 3 or 4 dark patches; usually D III+XII-XIII+9 and A II,16-17; mode of 15 pored lateral-line scales and 22 scales in notched midline row (Ref. 93957).