This species is distinguished by the following characters: spinulated posterior and lower margins of the praeoperculum with the angular part of the praeoperculum having a non-spinulated notch; insertion of the ventral fins at the level of the vertical of the posterior margin of the pectoral fin insertion, or sometimes slightly shifted anteriad in small specimens; upper jaw extends beyond the vertical of the posterior eye margin; possess the smallest eyes among other species of the genus, 10.7-17.2 times in HL; soft rays on dorsal fin 9-10, in anal fin 7-8; first branchial arch with 23-25 rakers; vertebrae 24-25; pyloric caeca 7 (Ref. 83463).