This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: dorsal surface of head and body covered with spinules, extending from the nasal organs to caudal-fin base; ventral surface of head and ventrum also covered with spinules, extending just posterior to the lower jaw to slightly anterior to the anus; spinules present in front of gill opening, connecting the spinuled areas on the dorsum and ventrum; dorsal-fin rays 11 (11-13); anal-fin rays 10 (10-12); pectoral-fin rays 16 (15-17); vertebrae 8+13=21. Colouration: dorsal half of head and body brown with rounded white spots, with many of the spots equal in size to pupil; a longitudinal pale yellow stripe along the ventrolateral edge from chin to the caudal-fin base; 5 (or 6) wide dark brown bars crossing over the back, the first on the interorbital region, second dorsal to gill opening, third dorsal to the posterior part of pectoral fin, fourth on the dorsal-fin base, fifth on the caudal peduncle (and sometimes another bar found just anterior to the dorsal-fin origin); absence of a large black blotch on the side dorsal to pectoral fin; all fins are yellow (Ref. 121642).