The anterior nostril is placed low on snout; male copulatory organ with 2 pairs of pseudoclaspers, the outer large, broad and blade-like, the inner a mere fleshy appendix fused to the outer pseudoclasper anteriorly and without a supporter; eyes moderately large (1.8-2.6% SL); fish small (maximum 60 mm SL, maturity reached at 35 mm SL), slender (head height about 16% SL, depth at anal about 16.5% SL); precaudal vertebrae 12 (rarely 11); head with scale patch only on cheek; otolith elongate, its sulcus inclined (5-10°), short (otolith length to sulcus length 2.2-2.4), with fused colliculi; maxilla rounded postero-ventrally with weak knob in front of rear corner; anterior anal fin pterygiophore is long (Ref. 57884).

Description: Characterized by head and upper third of body generally darker; vertebrae 11-12+29-31=40-43 (Ref. 90102).