This species is distinguished by the following characters: precaudal vertebrae 15-17; first gill arch with long gill rakers 18-21, with very few intermittent patches; HL:HD 1.73-1.81; strong head spines on ethmoidal, lacrimal, prefrontal, interorbital, supraorbital, sphenotic, supratemporal, inner and outer posttemporal, inner and outer preopercular rims, and 5th infraorbital; opercular spine weak and flat; maxilla no scales; small opercular flap with ridges on lower part; lower lateral line pores until beginning of anal fin 15; moderately broad dentition patch on vomer with 1-3 rows of teeth, on palatines with 2-4 rows of teeth; otolith with single colliculum; OL:OH = 1.04-1.27; OL:TCL = 1.50-2.14 (Ref. 125143).