Distinguished by the following characteristics: head, body and fins brown; body, caudal and dorsal fins with numerous small close-set irregular dark brown spots; 2 dark brown stripes running posteriorly from the eye across operculum, and another continuing from the maxillary groove to the lower edge of the preopercle; body elongate, depth 3.2-3.7 times in SL; greatest body width 1.4-1.8 times in body depth; head length 2.4-2.7 times in SL; angular preopercle, with several enlarged serrae at the angle; upper edge of operculum slightly convex; posterior and anterior nostrils equal; scaly maxilla, reaching to or past vertical at rear edge of eye; 2-3 rows of teeth on midside of lower jaw; rounded caudal fin; ctenoid midlateral-body scales (mostly embedded), with auxiliary scales (Ref. 089707).