This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VI + I,11-11; A I,11; pectoral rays 18-19; longitudinal scale series 58-66; body depth 5-5.6 in SL; dorsal profile of snout forming an angle of about 60° to horizontal axis of head and body; gill opening reaching forward to, or slightly anterior to, a vertical at posterior margin of preoperculum; 2nd dorsal spine longest (in males 1.2-2.2 times longer than third spine; while in females 1.2-1.6 times longer than third spine); caudal-fin length 2.8-3.6 in SL; 4 longitudinal rows of dark brown spots on body, the first 3 with dashes alternating with small spots, lowermost of 7 or 8 round to slightly oval spots (3rd one small); postorbital head crossed by 4 steeply oblique rows of dashes and spots, 1st short from behind eye, 2nd from behind corner of mouth to above anterior fourth of opercle; snout with a V-shaped dark brown mark dorsoposterior to it; when alive, the ventral part of body with small vertical yellow marks, mostly over abdomen and pectoral fins with a white spot at upper base and a larger one near middle of fin about one-third fin length from base (Ref. 90180).