This species is distinguished by the following characters: cephalic sensory-canal pore system lacking only the IT pore (pattern 2); branched pectoral-fin rays; dorsal/anal-fin formula is 9/8; the fifth pelvic-fin is ray small or rudimentary (about 10% of 4th pelvic ray); caudal fin has rows of small dark spots set close together on rays, membranes dark; presence of a small dark spot over preural centrum associated with last subcutaneous bar may be present; the scale edges are not dark (Ref. 107299).

Description: Translucent grey to greenish color; with narrow, internal, orange-brown bars on body; each scale with dark brownish orange line; head pale grey with vertically elongate orange-brown spots; male with first two dorsal spines sometimes elongate; eleventh to fifteenth pectoral rays usually branched; longitudinal scale series 23-25; ctenoid scales, none on head, nape, chest and base of pectoral fin; separated pelvic fins, thin membrane joining bases; fourth pelvic ray with 6-15 branches; depth of body 4.3-4.8 in SL (Ref. 90102).