This species is distinguished by the following characters: absence of head and preopercular canals; large papilla replace pores, generally for pores B, C, E and F; pore locations G and H with or without large papilla; 28-30 scales in lateral series; scales cycloid anteriorly, becoming ctenoid with ctenii increasing in size posteriorly. Body with 4 mottled, wide brown-orange bars separated by narrower white bars, cheek whitish with 5 more or less circular blotches of orange, outlined in dark brown and a black spot on ventral operculum (Ref. 95673).