Differs from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: caudal peduncle quadrangular in cross-section; adipose-fin origin vertically crossing middle length of last anal-fin ray; arrector fossae opening on each side of scapular bridge occupying one fourth to two fifths of distance from mid-ventral suture of scapular bridge to its lateral margin; abdomen totally covered with 5-7 elongated plates on each lateral series and 7-10 series between them; eye small, 2.1-2.5 times in interorbital distance; plates in longitudinal series 24-26; adult individuals measuring up to 2.7 cm SL with 22-27 premaxillary teeth and 21-24 dentary teeth (Ref. 57861).