Diagnosis: head length 35.5-35.8 %SL; snout length 29.0-29.8 % head length; snout pointed; lower jaw length 37.1-38.4 % head length; premaxillary pedicel length 24.5-24.9 % head length; lachrymal 18.4-19.2 % head length; 19-22 gill-rakers on lower limb of first arch; predorsal distance 37.2-37.7 %SL; body depth 38.0-40.6 %SL (Ref. 55898).

Description: dorsal and ventral body profile convex, dorsal more strongly than ventral; dorsal head profile slightly convex; snout of average length and pointed; maxilla extending to vertical at anterior margin of eye; gape inclined at about 20-25° to horizontal; outer oral teeth small, mainly shouldered unicuspid, some tricuspid and unicuspid teeth present; inner oral teeth unicuspid; 2-3 series of scales on cheek; lower pharyngeal jaw normal; all pharyngeal teeth fine and slender, densely packed; gill-rakers on lower limb medium-sized and slender; mature males with soft dorsal and anal fins prolonged and filamentous posteriorly (Ref. 55898).

Coloration: Preserved: Females and immature males: body pale beige; 6 very faint vertical bars below dorsal fin; dorsal fin with faint grey base and darker grey lappets; all other fins pale (Ref. 55898). Mature males: dark vertical bars present; snout, chin and belly dark; dorsal fin with spotted grey base; spots merged into oblique bars on soft dorsal; dorsal fin tips dark; caudal fin dark with 3 vertical series of faint spots; anal fin dark; ventral fin with dark leading edge (Ref. 55898).