This species is distinguished by the following characters: D XIII,10 or 11; A II,10 or 11; pectoral rays 17 or 18; spiniform caudal rays 3; tubed lateral-line scales 13 or 14; gill rakers 9 + 20 or 21 = 29 or 30; body depth 2.0-2.1 in SL; color overall dusky bluish grey, except dark grey on anterior half of head and bright yellow on nape and upper back above lateral-line; fins mainly translucent whitish except caudal fin lobes and basal portion of soft dorsal fin dark grey; color in alcohol mainly mottled brown with translucent whitish fins (Ref. 79629).

Description: body moderately deep and compressed; head scaled except lips, tip of snout and a narrow zone; mouth terminal, small and oblique; opercle ending posteriorly in a flat spine; teeth multiserial (Ref. 79629).

Coloration: overall dusky bluish grey, except dark grey on anterior half of head and bright yellow on nape and upper back above lateral-line scales; spinous dorsal and basal portion of soft dorsal fin dark grey, remaining portion of soft dorsal translucent white; anal fin translucent whitish; caudal fin mainly dark grey with translucent white posterior margin; pectoral and pelvic fins translucent white (Ref. 79629).