This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: symphysial knob is not well-developed; postdorsal length, when pressed forward, falling short of the posterior margin of the eye; lachrymal groove not distinct; lateral line complete, 29-33 (mode 31) perforated scales; scales between the dorsal-fin origin and the lateral line usually 4½ (rarely 5 or 5½); predorsal scales usually 15-16 (rarely 14 or 17); circumpeduncular scales 14; midlateral stripe intense, about ¼-? scale width wide anteriorly, ½ scale width wide posteriorly; basal reticulation is parenthesis-shaped; 3-3½ scales wide, not apparent posterior to the origin of the anal fin; no dark patch in the mid-humeral region (Ref. 123756).