This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: presence of a very large midlateral spot, where each scale forming the spot usually bears one large white dot; in adult males, midlateral spot is almost reaching the dorsal-fin base being about 4-5 scales wide and 4 scales tall (vs. with two or three scale rows distance from the dorsal fin base in other species); the midlateral spot of females and juveniles is also large, but usually not extending above the upper lateral line; upper lateral line with 18-21 scales, usually 18-20 (vs.13-19 in all other species) (Ref. 118066).