This species is distinguished by the following characters: secondary caudal pores absent; peritoneum is pigmented dorsolaterally; quadrate bone wider than long; body relatively deeper; fewer circumpeduncular scales; gill-rakers on first arch often bifid; caudal edge of urohyal sigmoid; with anterodorsad spine on first dorsal pterygiophore; dorsal-fin interradial scales distally in two rows; rounded posterior edge of mesethmoid; gut simple, S-shaped, not folded, anal and medial loops touching; caudal blotch completely on fin (Ref. 74403).