This species is distinguished by the following characters: bony interorbital 100% pupil diameter; fully scaled midline of nape of 12-14 scales; the second dorsal spine may reach posteriorly to middle of second dorsal fin; papillae in longitudinal row immediately below eye either single or with two papillae in vertical row (but not in vertical rows of 3-5 papillae at each position); pectoral-fin rays unbranched; usually a branched fifth pelvic-fin ray that is about half length of the fourth ray; a large diffuse dark blotch on the posterior caudal peduncle; colour pattern of a brownish body with most body scales having golden- to greenish-yellow (pale in preservative) centres is unique among species of Trimma (Ref. 115117).