This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: D2 I,8; A I,7; pectoral fin rays modally 16; longitudinal scale series 25-27 (modally 26); predorsal scales 3-6 (modally 5-6); vertebral count 26. Colouration: in males, the lateral body has 6-7 major patches of irregularly grayish to brownish black marks; cheek blackish brown with four oblique grayish black stripes; the branchiostegal membrane grayish blue without any light spots; first dorsal fin with a broad grayish brown band in the middle, outer margin pinkish orange; pectoral fin base with longitudinal deep brown bar in upper region; caudal fin gray with four vertical rows of brown spots, its base has a short brownish black bar (Ref. 127453).