Diagnosis: compressed and deep body with greatest body depth at origin of pelvic fins; head large, 39.4-41.0% SL; premaxillary pedicel of upper jaw slightly longer than dentigerous arm of premaxilla; sloping at an angle of 77° from horizon; dental arcade with 2 rows of closely set unicuspid teeth, 53 in outer row, 40 in inner; lower jaw relatively long with rounded dental arcade, and 2 rows of erect, slightly recurved and irregularly spaced unicuspid teeth, 37 in outer row, a few teeth in inner; 26-27 total dorsal fin rays; 12-13 total anal fin rays; pectoral fin relatively long, 25.0-28.4% SL, just reaching origin of anal fin; caudal peduncle short and deep; cycloid scales with a few weakly ctenoid scales on lower flanks; 20-22 upper and 10-12 lower lateral line scales; 6-7 scales between pelvic and pectoral fin bases; 5-7 scales between lateral line and origin of dorsal fin; 4-5 cheeck scale rows; 15 abdominal vertebrae; 14 caudal vertebrae (Ref. 52267).

Description: snout relatively long; frontal profile straight, sometimes slightly concave; caudal fin subtruncate (Ref. 52307).

Coloration: living coloration unknown (Ref. 52307). Preserved material: beige background colour, pigmented brown by a series of spots and lines; anterior head pigmented; mental and opercular blotches present; 3 poorly defined and broken lines along body: midlateral, dorsal lateral and dorsal medial bands; 6-7 short and indistinct vertical bars on body; belly and ventral flank unpigmented (Ref. 52267). Freshly preserved specimens: body silvery with some brownish shades in dorsal regions; diffuse horizontal and vertical bands; several small reddish-brown dots visible at base of caudal fin and in soft dorsal fin, often also in soft anal (Ref. 52307).