This species is distinguished by the following characters: usually D XII,11 (rarely XII, 10 or XII, 12) and the pectoral-fin rays 16 (rarely 15, 17 or 18); scale rows in longitudinal series 51-57; relatively long fin days in the dorsal-fin with length of longest 30.9-40.5 (mean 35.8) % of SL, in the anal-fin with longest ray length 35.8-44.8 (40.4) % of SL, in the pectoral fin, the ninth ray length 75.6-113.2 (92.4) % of SL, and in pelvic-fin with longest ray 48.2-71.9 (60.0) % of SL with its posterior tip reaching or extending beyond vertical through posteriormost anal-fin

soft ray base when depressed; supraocular tentacle without lateral branches; the postorbital sensory canal absent or not connected to sphenotic spine base at any life history stage. Colouration: body sides with five broad dark black bands and a horizontal broad dark band on caudal peduncle; the fourth and fifth body bands relatively narrow, dorsal width 5.8-9.3

(mean 7.4) % of SL and 3.4-9.3 (7.3) % of SL, respectively; the fourth additional (inserted) marking relatively broad, dorsal width 2.1-4.9 (3.6) % of SL (Ref. 123589).