This species is distinguished by the following characters: precaudal vertebrae 17-18; long gill rakers on first gill arch 15-18; HL:HD 1.6-1.8 (rarely 1.52-1.6); head spines strong on ethmoidal, sphenotic, outer posttemporal, inner preopercular rim, weak on lacrimal, prefrontal, interorbital, 5th infraorbital, and absent on supraorbital, supratemporal, and outer preopercular rim; opercular spine flat and weak; lower lateral line pores until beginning of anal fin 17-20; vomer with broad dentition patch (2-4 rows); palatines with broad dentition patch (5-7 rows); otolith with single colliculum and step at collum; OL:OH = 1.45-1.65 (Ref. 125143).