Diagnosis: anal fin with 2 unbranched and 7-11 branched rays; head and body with dark band along mid-lateral surface from snout to at least rear of caudal peduncle (Ref. 81638).

Description: body moderately to distinctly elongate, depth 0.22-0.27x SL; mouth almost terminal; maxilla edentulous, premaxilla with 5 and dentary with 5-6 bicuspid teeth; scales ctenoid and moderately sized; lateral line mid-lateral, irregularly pored in smaller individuals, but complete in larger specimens with 36-40 scales; 4 scales between anal fin origin and lateral line; D: II-III,11-13 (Ref. 81638).

Coloration: preserved specimens light to dark brown, darker dorsally; head with dark pigmentation that extends from snout and upper lip to anterior margin of orbit; opercle darker, more so dorsally; mid-lateral surface of body with dark, irregular vertical bars continuous ventrally with mid-lateral band; caudal fin with middle rays often darker than other rays, more so basally; dorsal and anal fins dusky; pectoral and pelvic fins with rays outlined by small, dark chromatophores (Ref. 81638).