This species is distinguished by the following characters: moderately slender with flat dorsal head profile leading up to ’humpback’ structure at beginning of first dorsal fin; snout pointed, inferior, steeply inclined; pectoral-fin rays 15-16, its length 23.6-29.7% SL; A II+9, first anal-fin pterygiophore moderately long, with broad hollow base and straight to slightly backward bent tip; vomer V-shaped with 2-3 rows of granular teeth and 0-1 longer tooth near sides of base; palatine narrow, with 1-2 rows of granular teeth; eye diameter 13.1-16.9% SL; snout length 8.2-11.3% SL; gill rakers 27-31; pseudobranchial filaments 15-23; many longitudinal ridges on preopercular lobe; inner edge of preopercle with 3-6 denticles; otolith compressed (OL:OH = 1.3-1.35); maximum length not exceeding 8.6 cm SL (Ref. 122020).