This species is distinguished by the following characters: vertebrae 11 + 37-39 = 48-50; D 68-73; A 61-65; pectoral-fin rays 14; caudal-fin rays 6; D/V 9-11; D/A 13-15; V/A 14-16; head with continuous squamation across cheek, opercle and occiput except for triangular window above opercle; anterior half of head with abundant papillae; forward-curved spine at lower angle of preopercle, hidden by skin; 3 posterior mandibular pores, 2-3 lower preopercular pores; absence of palatine teeth; moderately elongate otolith, length to height 2.0-2.1 and otolith length to colliculum length 2.6-3.0 (Ref. 95276).