This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: upper jaw is relatively long with posterior tip slightly beyond opercle posterior margin, but not reaching the pectoral-fin insertion; first supramaxilla absent; teeth on both jaws are robust, enlarged; dorsum with distinct paired dark lines when preserved; a dark blotch behind the upper part of gill opening sometimes present in preserved specimens; branched rays of dorsal fin 10-11 (modally 10), anal fin usually 42-45 (rarely 40, modally 44), pectoral fin with 11-12 (modally 11); transverse scales 12-13 (12); scale rows in longitudinal series 45-47 (46); gill rakers on first gill arch, in upper series15-16 (15), lower series 20-23 (22), total 35-39 (37); gill rakers on second gill arch, in upper series 12-14 (modally 13), lower series 21-23 (22), total 33-37 (35); gill rakers on third gill arch, in upper series 10-11 (10), lower series 12-14 (13), total 22-24 (23); gill rakers on fourth gill arch, in upper series 7-9 (8), lower series 10-13 (11), total 18-22 (19); snout is long, 3.7-4.1% SL; pelvic fin is long, 9.0-10.4% SL; mandible is long, 17.3-18.3% SL; pelvic-fin insertion to anal-fin origin 17.0-18.8% SL (Ref. 123974).