This species is characterized by having the following characters: a relatively deep body, numerous irregular scales with about 30 lateral rows and over 15 scales in the anterior transverse series, a fifth pelvic fin ray that branches twice dichotomously, usually a somewhat elongate second dorsal spine, no predorsal, cheek or opercular scales, a moderately wide bony interorbital with a fleshy median ridge between the eyes, and a dermal ridge anterior to the first dorsal spine. There is a red spot or elongate blotch above the opercle in live and fresh material, and the dorsal surface of the snout has a reticulated dark pattern, with dark transverse stripes over the dorsal margin of the orbit (Ref. 87358).