This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: segmented dorsal rays 14 (rarely 13); pectoral rays 16 (rarely 15 or 17), middle rays branched; lateral line complete, 31-36 tubed scales; no antrorse spines on ventral margin of preopercle; no scales on maxilla; relatively distinct in having a short dark stripe in front of the eye, a faint dusky stripe from behind the eye across upper side of body, and a faint small dusky spot at midbase of caudal fin (stripes and spot better developed in small specimens) (Ref. 123579).