Diagnosis: head length 32.3-34.5 %SL; snout length 28.5-29.5 % head length; snout blunt; lower jaw length 36.3-38.0 % head length; premaxillary pedicel length 22.5-26.3 % head length; lachrymal 16.9-20.0 % head length; 18-21 gill-rakers on lower limb of first arch; predorsal distance 35.4-36.5 %SL; body depth 35.5-37.4 %SL (Ref. 55898).

Description: ventral and dorsal body profiles convex; head profile slightly convex; snout short and blunt; gape inclined at about 15° to horizontal; maxilla extending beyond vertical of anterior of eye; outer oral teeth small, bicuspid and close-set; inner oral teeth tricuspid; 2 series of scales on cheek; upper margin of eye touching dorsal head profile; lower pharyngeal normal; all pharyngeal teeth fine and slender; gill-rakers on lower limb long and slender; in mature males soft dorsal and anal prolonged and filamentous (Ref. 55898).

Coloration: Preserved: Females and immature males: body pale beige; 7 faint vertical bars below dorsal fin; bars distinct only on upper part of body; all fins pale; dorsal fin with very faint grey spots and faint grey bands on soft portion; dorsal fin tips darker (Ref. 55898). Mature males: dark vertical bars on body; snout, chin and belly dark; dorsal fin dark with dark tips; caudal and anal fins dark; ventral fin with dark leading edge (Ref. 55898).