This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: long maxilla, 22.1-23.2% SL (mean 22.6%), posterior tip slightly short of or just reaching posterior margin of opercle; absence of predorsal scute; pelvic scute no spine; gill rakers on first gill arch, 17-19 (modally 18) in upper series, 23-25 (23) in lower series, total 40-44 (42); gill rakers on second gill arch, 11-13 (12) in upper series, 20-22 (21) in lower series, total 32-35 (32); gill rakers on third gill arch, 9-11 (10) in upper series, 12-13 (12) in lower series, total 21-23 (22); gill rakers on fourth gill arch, 8-10 (8) in upper series, 10-11 (10) in lower, total 18-21 (18); gill rakers 5-7 (6) on hind face of third gill arch; prepelvic scutes 4-6 (6); transverse scales 8; pseudobranchial filaments 17-20 (19); pelvic fin when depressed not reaching to vertical through dorsal-fin origin; snout, 4.0-4.5% SL (mean 4.3%); pectoral fin, 6-17.9% SL (17.2%); long pelvic fin, 9.5-10.4% SL (9.8%); large head, 26.0-27.5% SL (26.6%); orbit, 8.7-9.3% SL (9.0%); lower jaw rather short, 17.9-18.5% SL (18.1%). Colouration: paired dark patches on parietal and occipital regions without a following pair of dark lines; with numerous black spots on snout and lower-jaw tip, rarely on suborbital area (Ref. 123901).