Distinguished by the following characteristics: greyish brown color of head and body with irregular white spots and blotches; 3-4 dark brown stripes radiating posteriorly from the eye and continuing along the ventral half of the body as wavy dark stripes; dark brown stripe from maxillary streak to edge of preopercle; darker median fins with white spots and streaks; oblong and compressed body, depth of body 2.7-3.2 times in SL; head length 2.5-2.7 times in SL; width of maxilla 4.4-5.8% of SL; convex interorbital area; angular preopercle, enlarged serrae at the angle, forming a weak lobe; subequal sizes of anterior and posterior nostrils (Ref. 89707).