This small and strongly sexually dichromatic specis is distinguished by the following characters: D2 I,7; A I,6-7; pectoral rays 13-16; segmented caudal rays 16 in 9/7 pattern; lateral scales 25-28; transverse scale count 8-9; predorsal scales 6-8; snout is short and slightly pointed; opercle with 3 rows of cycloid scales, cheek no scales; shoulder girdle has a smooth edge or low angled bony flange; tongue is short, its tip blunt to bluntly rounded; outer row of teeth in upper jaw slender, slightly curved and pointed (may be slightly flattened). Colouration: males with a narrow black line along mid-side of body and a dense black rounded spot at upper base of caudal fin; females with broken dark brown line and an inistinct black spot at upper base of caudal fin (Ref. 126575).