Diagnosis: head length 31.3-34.3 %SL; snout length 28.1-30.6 % head length; snout blunt; lower jaw length 32.9-34.6 % head length; outer oral dentition well developed bicuspid; gape inclined at about 15° to horizontal; premaxillary pedicel length 22.9-27.5 % head length; eye diameter 37.1-39.6 % head length; predorsal distance 34.0-36.4 %SL; dorsal fin base length 53.1-55.2 %SL; body depth 34.5-36.7 %SL (Ref. 55898).

Description: relatively elongate species; dorsal body profile more strongly convex than ventral body profile; head small; snout short and blunt; mouth moderate; maxilla extending just beyond vertical at anterior margin of eye; outer oral teeth bicuspid, becoming unicuspid posteriorly; inner oral teeth tricuspid; 2-3 series of scales on cheek; eye large; upper margin of eye touching dorsal head profile; lower pharyngeal jaw slender; all pharyngeal teeth small and slender; gill-rakers on lower limb relatively long and slender (Ref. 55898).

Coloration: Preserved: Females and immature males: body pale brownish yellow; 7 vertical bars below dorsal fin, only visible on dorsal part of body; snout dark; dorsal fin grey; faint grey oblique bars on soft dorsal; all other fins pale (Ref. 55898). Mature males: body darker; snout, chin and belly dark; dorsal fin grey, with thin faint submarginal band and white tips; soft dorsal with grey oblique bands and dark trailing edge; caudal fin pale grey; anal and ventral fins with black leading edges (Ref. 55898).