This species is distinguished by the following characters: D XII,13, no dorsal-fin rays filamentous, the fourth dorsal-fin spine the longest, the spine length 2.25-2.34 in head; A III, 7; pectoral-fin rays 13, none branched; branched caudal fin emarginate without filamentous rays; branched caudal-fin rays 13; anterior half of interorbital space scalelesss; gill rakers 7 + 10-11; posterior margin of preopercle with 11-19 serrae, lower margin with 2 antrorse spines; lateral line incomplete, 17 tubed scales; scales above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 3½; scales below lateral line to origin of anal fin 9; circumpeduncular scales 14; cheek with about 5 diagonal rows of large scales; sides of body with a large, round black blotch, caudal peduncle with two dark brown spots (Ref. 125645).