Diagnosis: body depth 3.1-3.8x and head length 3.1-3.8x SL; snout length comprised from 4.5-4.7x in head length; eye diameter comprised from 3-3.5x in head length (Ref. 86396). Laterosensory canal on lateral surface of head limited to arch of pores around ventral and posterior margins of orbit and associated with preopercle; maxilla with 6 or more teeth; 6th infraorbital (dermosphenotic) absent; dark pigmentation along lateral surface of body approximately 4 scales high (Ref. 81638). Dark vertical bar at base of caudal fin (Ref. 81638, 86396). 11-13 (Ref. 81638) or 10-12 (Ref. 86396) total dorsal fin rays.

Description: snout rounded (Ref. 86396). Body relatively robust, more so anteriorly, depth 0.30-0.33 SL; head profile moderately acute anteriorly (Ref. 81638). Caudal peduncle 1.3-1.5x head length; maxilla reaching to below anterior eye margin (Ref. 86396). Each jaw with 2 rows of teeth, outer row teeth bicuspid (Ref. 81638, 86396), inner row conical (Ref. 86396). Premaxilla with 6-7 teeth along anterior margin, dentary with 8 teeth in outer series; adipose fin typically absent; body scales ctenoid and of moderate size; 9 scales in transverse series between origin of drosal fin and mid-ventral line (excluding median scales); D: II-III,9-10; A: II-III,7-9 (Ref. 81638). Lateral line incomplete, with pores on only anterior 3-5 scales (Ref. 81638, 86396). No scaly process at pelvic-fin bases (Ref. 2936, 86396).

Coloration: ground color tan to brown, lighter ventrally; head darker dorsally and on opercle, with dark band on lips and snout anterior to orbit; dark humeral spot posterodorsal to opercle (Ref. 81638). Humeral spot followed by lightly pigmented area and then broad dusky mid-lateral band about 4 scales high that extends almost to end of caudal peduncle (Ref. 81638, 86396). Mid-lateral band often darker to much darker anteriorly (Ref. 81638). Base of caudal fin with vertically elongate, dark bar (Ref. 81638, 86396), slightly separated by unpigmented area from mid-lateral band on body (Ref. 81638). Distal portions of anal fin darker; other fins with rays outlined with small dark chromatophores, but otherwise unmarked (Ref. 81638). In life sides golden, lateral band with greenish reflections and fins reddish (Ref. 86396).