Extremely small size (height 11 mm, standard length 14 mm); 12 trunk rings; 27–28 tail rings; reduced ossification of inferior and ventral trunk ridges; 13 dorsal fin rays; 9 pectoral fin rays; small or absent anal fin; brooding area in males anterior to anus; well–developed spine on snout between eyes; distinct raised coronet with laterally expanded anterior and posterior flanges ('H–shaped' when viewed from above); snout without a bulbous tip; single gill opening on midline directly behind coronet supported by raised cleithral bone; large spines above eyes (double), laterally on head, on shoulder (cleithral) ring, bordering throat, and on superior trunk ridge (especially well–developed on TrR1–2,5,8 and 12 and TaR4,8,11,14); spines also present on lateral and ventral angles between trunk ridges and rings; spines on superior ridge of first and second trunk rings appear externally as if they are fused (Ref. 79848).

Description: Characterized by white to pale brown color with black spot immediately anterior to eye; operculum, body and tail with blotchy red markings (Ref. 90102).