This species is distinguished by the following characters: D 77-92; A 59-72; moderately large eyes (2.5-3.0% SL); moderately slender, massive body, snout with many cirri; cheeks with scales and a large scale patch on opercular spine(6-17), with large specimens having a few scales below opercular spine; with upper preopercular pore; outer pseudoclasper broad-based, not very large, not extending beyond hood in resting position; the inner pseudoclasper is not much smaller than the outer one, equal anterior and posterior lobes, anterior lobe broadly connected to anterior rim of outer pseudoclasper; slender otolith, its length to height 2.2-2.4, with gently curved dorsal rim; otolith length to sulcus length 1.6-1.7, ostium length to caudal length 3.5-4.0; vertebrae 11-12 + 30-32 = 41-44 (Ref. 81230).

Description: Characterized by brownish red to orange brown color; caudal rays 16; body depth at origin of anal fin 16.8-23.4 (mean 19.9) % SL; anterior nostril high on snout, about one-third or less distance from lip to anterior rim of eye (Ref. 90102).