This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: a pungent opercular spine; rib present on the last abdominal vertebra; no teeth on palatine and tongue; mustache-like process sharp-pointed; pectoral fin reaching to vertical line from anus; orbital diameter longer than postorbital length; gill rakers 7-8 + 22-23 = 29-31; vertebrae 10 + 15; total pored lateral-line scales 47-50 (hypural end 46-47 + caudal fin 4); D VII-I,9; A II, 9; pectoral-fin rays 17-18; pyloric caeca 5; head length 37.8-38.0% SL; orbital diameter 16.4-17.0% SL; pectoral-fin length 22.2-23.0% SL; lower jaw length 16.7-17.0% SL (Ref. 86804).