This species is distinguished from all its congeners by the following set of characters: lateral line complete, with 31-33 + 1-2 scales; scales in transverse line on body ½6-½ 7/1/2 ½-3½ and on caudal peduncle ½3-½ 4/1/1 ½; body depth 27.9-32.4% SL; and lower jaw smooth, lacking tubercles on skin over dentary (Ref. 75997). It can be further distinguished from its Sri Lankan congeners by the following: a vertically elongate cleithral spot with greatest dimension greater than or subequal to the eye diameter; neuromast fields on the lower jaw are indistinct or altogether absent; adpressed unbranched pelvic-fin ray is usually not reaching beyond the anal-fin origin; often with 10-12 circumpeduncular scales and the 31-33 lateral-line scale (Ref. 127713).

Description: Dorsal fin with 2 simple and 8½ branched rays; anal fin with 3 simple and 15½ - 17½ branched rays; pectoral fin with one unbranched and 11 branched rays; pelvic fin with one unbranched and 5 branched rays (Ref. 75997).