This species can be diagnosed by the following combination of characters: second dorsal fin with usually 9 soft-rays; first dorsal fin pointed with 4 and 5 elongate spines in males; pectoral fin usually with 15 soft-rays; premaxillary teeth 42-46 in <30.0 mm SL, 51-56 in 30.0-39.9 mm SL, 52-59 in 40.0-49.9 mm SL, and 64-65 in ? 50.0 mm SL; dentary with canine-like symphyseal teeth in both sexes; male lacking white patch behind pectoral-fin base; anterior half of nape almost naked in male; most of nape scaled and most of occipital region naked in female; colorations in both male and female are very unique and also distinguish them from all congeners, such consisting of black spots scattering dorsally on head and trunk of male and female, broad black bands on distal part of second dorsal fin and dorsal part of caudal fin of male, fine black spots on pectoral-fin rays of male and dusky transverse bars laterally on trunk and tail of female (Ref. 94085).