This species is distinguished by the following characters: interorbital broad, with a slight depression between eyes; predorsal scales covered with ctenoid scales to above mideye, and a small naked patch immediately before first dorsal fin; scales absent immediately behind eye before transverse postocular papilla row; prepelvic area partly scaled immediately before pelvic origin, in 2-8 rows; usually no opercular scales, but rarely 1-5 small scales dorsally; no scales on; usually D2 I,10, A I,8, pectoral rays 19; transverse pattern of sensory papilla rows on cheek; pelvic fins connected to form a plate, but no interspinal membrane, the fifth ray with multiple branches, length about 75-80% of length of fourth ray; head and body brown with a distinct large black blotch at anterior base of first dorsal fin, and in life, head and body with very thin blue bands; no bands dorsally on caudal fin; mouth very oblique, jaws form an angle for 55°-60° with body axis (Ref. 85603).