This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: maxilla long, 20.5-22.0% of SL, its posterior tip just reaching just short of or slightly beyond posterior margin of opercle; posterior margin of preopercle indented; predorsal scutes absent; prepelvic scutes 5-7 (modally 6, rarely 4); pelvic scute without spine; anal fin with three unbranched and 16-19 (18) branched rays, its origin just below base of seventh to ninth dorsal-fin ray; 1UGR 17-19 (18), 1LGR 23-27 (25), 1TGR 40-45 (43); scale rows in longitudinal series 34-36 (35); pseudobranchial filaments 16-20 (17); total vertebrae 39-41 (40); pelvic fin comparatively short, 7.7-9.6% of SL (mean 8.5%), tip of depressed pelvic fin not reaching posteriorly to vertical through dorsal fin origin; teeth on dorsal surface of ceratohyal absent; maximum standard length ca. 4.5 cm. (Ref. 131038)