This species is distinguished by the following characters: head 7.7-7.9% TL; tail 61% TL; body depth at gill opening 2.1-2.5% TL; dorsal-fin origin is behind pectoral-fin tip by about two pectoral-fin lengths; pectoral fin is elongate; posterior nostril a hole within upper lip, not visible externally; upper lip with two small but prominent protrusions beneath first infraorbital pore and mid-orbit; supraorbital pores one + three; mandibular pores 5; preopercular pores 2; teeth are small and conical, irregularly biserial on jaws and vomer; total vertebrae169-173, mean vertebral formula 18-64-171. Colouration: uniform tan dorsally and pale ventrally, fins are pale without dark margins (Ref. 131479).