This species is characterized by the following: reduced predorsal scales, usually not crossing the midline (midline naked or partly naked); cycloid scales at sides of nape reaching to above a point between posterior margin of operculum and eyes; no scales on cheeks nor opercles; pectoral base usually fully scaled, posterodorsal 2 scales slightly enlarged; prepelvic covered with small cycloid scales in 5-6 rows; interorbital narrow, with moderate groove; groove absent or very shallow behind eyes (shallow between eyes and absent behind eyes in juveniles); a low distinct ridge at posterior end of interorbital; gill opening extending forward to below posterior margin of pupil; nape crest low from first dorsal origin to above posterior opercular margin, reaching to the shallow median groove; groove extending to just behind eyes; pectoral rays unbranched or with 1-5 rays branched at extreme tips; fifth pelvic ray unbranched, rest of rays with 2 terminal tips; D2 usually I,9; A usually I,8; pelvic fins largely separate, connected only at base; fins widely separate, distance between 2 fins greater than base of single pelvic fin; pelvic scale covering membrane, with fifth ray about one-fourth to one-half length of fourth ray; dark brown spot or bar extending posteroventrally from eye, body with irregular brown interconnecting bars, forming zigzag pattern (Ref. 86884).