This species is distinguished by the following characters: 3 1/2 scales above lateral line to mid-base of spinous portion of dorsal fin; without half-scale on anterior to first lateral-line scale; head's dorsal profile nearly uniformly convex; in large specimen, anterior end of each nasal bone without sharp, forwardly directed spines; corner of preopercle with a small spine which is only slightly larger than other serrations; pectoral-fin rays 17; lateral-line scales 28; gill rakers 7 + 9 ; last dorsal-fin spine is slightly longer than penultimate spine; body depth 2.1 in SL; head length (HL) 2.4 in SL; very short snout, 6.5 in HL; least depth of caudal peduncle 4.8 in HL (Ref. 116609).