This species is distinguished by the following characters: a rigid upper jaw lacking flexible lamina posteriorly, extending about 0.6-0.9 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit; infraorbitals are relatively slender and tubular, the third infraorbital with moderate lateral opening and wide suborbital shelf; D X-XI,13-14; A II,11-13; scale rows in horizontal series 66-95; vertebrae 10-11 (usually 11) + 16-17. Colouration: dorsum with 6-7 dark blotches along base of dorsal fin, sides with a double row of large pale spots, and spinous dorsal fin with a single black spot between spines 3 to 5-7 (Ref. 128653).