This medium-sized species is distinguished by the following set of characters: head 9.4-10.5% TL in height, trunk width 14.5-17.1% TL; origin of first dorsal fin over or slightly behind mid pelvic-fin base; prenarial 4.4-5.0% TL in length; length of preorbital snout, 1.5-1.7 times prenarial length, 2.9-3.3 in prepectoral length, 6.4-7.2 in prepelvic length; snout-vent length long, 50.5-52.9% TL; nostril 2.4-2.6% TL in width; eye-spiracle space wide, 0.8-1.3% TL; pectoral fin large, height 12.9-13.2% TL, posterior margin length 10.4-12.1% TL; anal fin 3.5-4.1% TL in height; anal-caudal space 4.5-5.7% SL; precaudal 76-78% TL in length; interdorsal space 6.5-8.0% TL; teeth with 3-7 cusps near symphysis of upper jaw; flank denticles are mainly unicuspidate; back with no greatly enlarged denticles; long adult clasper, up to 8.1% TL, almost reaching anal fin, interspace about 5.4 in anal-fin base; vertebral centra 116-124; teeth in each jaw 68-82; variable colour pattern, not similar between adults and juveniles; adults have 11 distinct or indistinct dark saddle-like markings on body and tail while juveniles are without saddles, instead with fine blackish spots; predorsal saddles are not much wider than interspaces between them; interspiracular saddle width is subequal to eye length; obvious dark blotch over gill slits none; fleshy part of caudal fin appearing as a pale stripe, well demarcated from darker areas above and below (Ref. 76948).