This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: D X,13-14 (usually 14); total gill rakers 12-14; body depth 2.5-2.9 in SL; eye 4.2-4.6 in HL; interorbital 5.9-7.0 in HL; the scale rows above the lateral line rise obliquely toward dorsal profile; predorsal scales extending forward nearly to level of rear part of orbit; weakly developed preopercular notch and interopercular knob; upper surface of tongue with central patch of fine granular teeth; vomer with diamond-shaped to narrowly crescent-shaped patch of granular teeth with medial posterior extension; truncate caudal fin; in life it is overall pale grey, grading to silvery white on cheek, opercle, and lower side of body with series of seven dark brown to yellow stripes on posterior head and side, prominent black spot, about 1.2-1.5 size of eye, on posterior back below base of first 6-7 soft dorsal rays, its lowermost part occupying about one scale row below lateral line (Ref. 93093).