This species differs from its congeners by the following set of characters: median ridge is distinct, low, present on dorsum of head and first trunk ring starting from the posterior third of the frontal, over the supraoccipital, to the anterior and posterior nuchal plates; opercular ridge is prominent, complete, not angled dorsad; lateromedial ridge is distinct, low, present between opercle and pectoral fin base; dorsal-fin origin on the 6th–7th trunk rings, subdorsal rings 19-20 (12 trunk rings + 7 or 8 tail rings); lateral trunk ridge ends on the first tail ring. Colouration: body with red background colour; dorsum of snout with large, irregular pale white spots; the sides of head and anterior trunk rings with large, irregular pale white spots or with diffuse pale white stripe; venter of first trunk ring with distinct red elongated spots in a longitudinal row, almost forming a stripe, on midline present in male (AMS I. 49510-001); venter of anterior trunk rings pale red with a large cluster of distinct red spots thst extends posteriad from second trunk ring in male (AMS I. 49510-001), a few scattered small red spots in females (AMS I.1.47267) (Ref. 123272).