This species is distinguished by the following characters: fusiform body, covered with bony plates; large head, depressed and expanded around the edges; flat and elongated rostral projection on each side, rostral nearly parallel; large mouth, inferior, upper jaw not reaching below anterior border of orbit (Ref. 79587).

Description: bony plates 34 in upper lateral row, with 23rd-26th to 31st or 32nd plates each bearing a forward-directed spine; gill rakers 6-7 + 1 + 20-21 = 27-28; elongated rostral projection (53.0-59.3% HL); upper jaw short (42.1-43.4% HL); pectoral fin elongate (70.6-79.4% HL); long preopercular spine (39.2-57.7%HL); distance between anus and caudal fin base 49.9-52.1% SL (Ref. 79587).