This species is distinguished by the following characters: snout is relatively long, bluntly rounded; head length 21.5% of SL, snout length 9.3-11.6% of SL (43.4-46.5% of HL); eyes are not contiguous; corner of mouth is nearer to posterior edge of opercle than to tip of snout;

ocular side has 3 lateral lines, midlateral-line scales 111-115, scale rows between midlateral and dorsolateral lines 20, no lateral lines on blind side; ocular side with ctenoid scales, blind side with cycloid scales; D 120-126; A 105-106; caudal-fin rays 8; gill chamber and peritoneum black (Ref. 122477).