Anterior nostril pierced on front side of a flap; processus dentiformis present; small median notch in upper lip in specimens larger than 35 mm SL, lower lip interrupted medially; lateral line incomplete, reaching about level of pelvic-fin origin; large pectoral fin reaching pelvic-fin origin when depressed; anus about 1-2 eye diameters in front of anal-fin origin; 8.5 branched dorsal-fin rays; 5.5 branched anal-fin rays; caudal fin emarginate, with 9+8 branched rays; axillary pelvic lobe present; body with 13-15 narrow bars, somewhat irregularly shaped and placed, some of them broader and darker on middle of side, often alternating with narrower and shorter bars, giving the impression of an axial row of blotches; dorsal-fin base with two black spots along its anterior half, anterior one narrow and pointed; a vertically elongate black blotch on lower two-thirds of caudal-fin base (Ref. 36949).