This species is distinguished by the following characters: gill rakers of first gill arch 16-19 (modally 18) in upper series and 22-24 (21) in lower series, 39-43 (42) in total; gill rakers on second gill arch, 11-14 (13) in upper series, 20-24 (21) in lower series, 32-38 (35) in total; gill rakers on third gill arch, 9-12 (10) in upper series, 11-15 (13) in lower series, 21-26 (23) in total; gill rakers on fourth gill arch, 7-10 (9) in upper series, 8-12 (11) in lower series, 16-22 (20) in total; gill rakers 3-8 (5) on hind face of third gill arch; prepelvic scutes 2-5 (4); transverse scales 8-9 (8); vertebrae 20-21 (20) + 19-20 (19) = 39-40 (39); maxilla rather long, posterior tip just reaching or slightly beyond posterior margin of preopercle, 19.1-23.1% SL (mean 20.8%), 73.7-87.0% HL (81.2%); predorsal scutes absent; pelvic scute no spine; posterior border of preopercle convex, rounded; two pairs of dark patches on parietal and occipital regions; with a pair of dark lines on dorsum from parietal region to dorsal-fn origin; black spots below eye and lower-jaw tip absent; posterior tip of depressed pelvic fin reaching to vertical through 2nd to 6th dorsal-fin origin; head is short, 24.3-27.6% SL (mean 25.6%) (Ref. 123745).