This species is distinguished from its southwestern Atlantic congeners by the following set of characters: D XX,11-12 (rarely XVIII, XIX or XXI,13); A II,19-21; pectoral rays 14-15 (rarely 13); length of third pelvic ray contained 2.0-2.5 times in second pelvic-fin ray; lateral-line scales 54-63 (exceptional 65-68); total nuchal cirri 10-16; presence of pre-dorsal and pre-pectoral scales, considerably smaller than scales on body; breast usually fully scaled on males, often naked on females; two pores (rarely one pore), extend from preopercular onto opercle. Colouration: body with 5-6 (rarely 7) saddle-like bars that do not extend on dorsal fin; two large and distinct somewhat square bright white blotches usually restricted to upper lip (Ref. 123106).