This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: A 5-7 (mode 6); pectoral-fin rays 12-14 (13); lateral-line pores 15-20 (18) ;total gill rakers 9-14 (10) no papillae on the upper and lower lips; prsence of supraocular spine, a small lateral lacrimal spine (sometimes absent in specimens larger than 8.78 cm SL) and suborbital spine (sometimes absent in specimens larger than 9.38 cm SL); second dorsal-fin spine length 26.5-42.8% (mean 33.9%) of SL; third dorsal-fin spine shorter or subequal to second spine, its length 74.8-97.9% (83.8%) of D2L; membrane of spinous portion of dorsal fin incised. Colouration: body with 11-15 longitudinal pale brown to dark brown bars along lateral line from behind opercular margin to caudal-fin base; irregular pale brown to dark brown blotches 1 or 2 on dorsal-fin membrane between fifth to ninth spines (Ref. 125849).