This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: posterior margin of caudal fin black; dorsal-fin origin with a black spot; lateral body scales with centrally discontinuous vertical striae and pores posteriorly; body scales are non-deciduous; pelvic fin with 1 unbranched and 7 branched rays; dorsal fin with 4 or 5 unbranched rays; anal fin with 3 unbranched and 16–21 (modally 18) branched rays; gill rakers of first gill arch, upper limb 54-63 (60), lower limb 94-110 (96), total 150-168; scutes on ventral edge of body 17-18 (18) + 13-14 (14) = 30-32 (32); lateral scale rows in longitudinal series 41-43 (41); transverse scales 11-12 (12); pseudobranchial filaments 17-19 (17); head long, 27.9-30.0% SL; maxilla long, 12.0-13.0% SL; lower jaw long, 12.4-13.7% SL; caudal peduncle is short, 6.2-7.6% SL; eye large, 8.4-9.9%; orbit large, 9.6-12.3%; pectoral fin long, 21.0-22.7%; pelvic fin long, 12.5-13.5% (Ref. 124206).