This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: usually D XII,11 (rarely XII,10 or XII,12) and pectoral-fin rays 16 (rarely 15, 17 or 18); scale rows in longitudinal series 51-57; dorsal-fin soft rays relatively long with longest ray length 30.9-40.5 (mean 35.8) % of SL; anal-fin soft rays relatively long with longest ray length 35.8-44.8 (40.4) % of SL; pectoralfin rays relatively long, the ninth with length 75.6-113.2 (92.4) % of SL; pelvic-fin soft rays relatively long with longest ray length 48.2-71.9 (60.0) % of SL, its posterior tip reaching or extending beyond vertical through posteriormost anal-fin soft ray base when depressed; supraocular tentacle with no lateral branches; postorbital sensory canal absent or is not connected to sphenotic spine base at any life history stage. Colouration: body sides with five broad dark black bands, plus a single horizontal broad dark band on caudal peduncle, the fourth and fifth body bands relatively narrow, dorsal width 5.8-9.3 (mean 7.4) % of SL and 3.4-9.3 (7.3) % of SL, respectively; fourth additional (inserted) marking relatively broad, dorsal width 2.1-4.9 (3.6) % of SL (Ref. 123589).