The unique color pattern of dorsum and dorsolateral sides greyish-brown with small dark chromatophores, becoming sparse and faint towards the ventral portion of the body, distinguishes this species from all congeners. Can be further diagnosed by the following combination of features: nasal ossified with wide medial flanges partially sutured to lateral border of mesethmoid; 4 branched rays on pectoral fin; ribs attached to consecutive post-Weberian vertebrae; with two vertebrae alternatingly unribbed and ribbed; first nuchal plate somewhat elliptical to rounded; eye 17.4-22.8% HL; caudal-fin lobes of equal length in mature females, upper lobe slightly elongated in mature males; and vertebrae 34 (Ref. 79512).