Body covered with prickles (Ref. 559). Juveniles with dark stripes on belly, becoming spots with growth; adults with or without spots on fin (Ref. 4919).

Description: Characterized further by pale grey body color with dense covering of black spots on head, body and fins; large black spots or irregular blotches around bases of pectoral and dorsal fins; head and body with small spinules except top of snout, base of fins and side of caudal peduncle, best developed spinules on ventral surface; short snout, length about 1.7-2.7 in head length; bony interorbital width 2.2-2.4 in head length; rounded caudal fin, length 4.0-5.0 in SL (Ref. 90102).