This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VI,9; A III,41-43; pectoral rays 18-19; lateral-line scales 56-58; scales on anteroventral ctenoid and covering 90% of chest; gill rakers 30-32; body depth 2.1 in SL; head length 3.0-3.05 in SL; orbit diameter 7.45-7.7 in SL; caudal-fin length 3.45-3.55 in SL, moderately emarginate, caudal concavity 3.55-3.7 in head length; pectoral-fin length 3.15-3.2 in SL; colour in alcohol dark maroon brown, with the outer edge of scales broadly translucent gray; dorsal fin is pale yellowish, the distal half of first six soft rays and adjacent membranes black (dark pigment covering outer half of longest rays and adjacent membranes); anal fin and adjacent base of body darker brown than body, becoming progressively more translucent yellow distally, with a small brown spot on each scale; anal ray tips are translucent white; anterior five rays and membranes dark brown, the dark pigment also distally on the next five rays; caudal fin is dusky yellowish, darker brown basally and broadly darker all around margin; pectoral fins are yellowish gray with a large dark maroon brown spot covering entire base of fin; axil also dark maroon brown; pelvic fins are pale dusky yellowish (Ref. 97766).