This species of the Leiognathus splendens complex is distinguished by the following characters: no scales on cheek; anterior dorsolateral body surface almost completely scaled without a semicircular naked area on nape; lower margin of inner preopercular ridge is smooth or weakly serrated (including the neotype); interspace of pelvic keels without scales; second spines of dorsal and anal fins are robust (width of second spines of dorsal and anal fins 0.87-1.6% of SL and 0.76-1.7% of SL, respectively); a jet black blotch on spinous dorsal fin (Ref. 75583).

Description: Belly silvery; back greyish silvery with faint, grey wavy vertical lines above lateral lines in adults; lateral line scales and pectoral fin base yellow; pectoral axil black. Scales small and deciduous. Nuchal spine with a distinct median keel. Chest fully scaled. Mouth horizontal, pointing slightly downward when protracted; line of closed mouth passing below eye; a narrow brown band around end of snout. Lower edge of operculum and margin of supraorbital serrated. Third and fourth dorsal and third anal spines anteriorly serrated (Ref. 2108).