This species is distinguished by the following characters: precaudal vertebrae 17-18; first gill arch with long gill rakers 11-15; HL:HD 1.82-1.85; all head spines are strong, present on ethmoidal, lacrimal, prefrontal, interorbital, supraorbital, sphenotic, 5th infraorbital, supratemporal, inner and outer posttemporal, inner preopercular rim, and absent along outer preopercular rim; opercular spine sharp, strong, extruding; additional (3rd) postorbital pore, pores on top of head in front of nape; the large opercular flap without ridges; lower lateral line pores until beginning of anal fin 18-21; broad dentition patch on vomer (4-7 rows of teeth) and palatines (6 rows of teeth); otolith with clearly separated ostial and caudal colliculi; OL:OH = 1-6; OL:TCL = 2.45-2.85 (Ref. 125143).