This species differs from its congeners by the following characters: mouth terminal and oblique; most distinct pigmentation, a large blotch on trunk located anterodorsally beneath pectoral fin; opercle with a triangular patch; pectoral-fin base with a blotch; second dorsal-fin 14 elements, anal fin with 15 elements; dorsal fins separate; adults with small ctenoid scales covering trunk and nape, 57-89 scales in a lateral series; upper jaw with several rows of teeth; first gill arch with 8 thin rakers on ceratobranchial, 1at the angle, and 6 or 7 on epibranchial (Ref. 55435).