This species is distinguished by the following characters: no dark pigment on buccal cavity; pale body, usually with large faint dusky spots in several longitudinal series midlaterally on side; pale adipose fin; transparent caudal fin, though dusky near base of each lobe;

supraocular ridges extending nearly to predorsal scales; scales above lateral line 4.5; cheek scales in 2 rows; nearly cylindrical head and body with body tapering little posteriorly in dorsal view; large eye; tiny adipose dorsal fin, its length 4.7-10.6% HL; deep anal fin in males, the posterior tip reaching nearly to posterior edge of hypurals when depressed; short pectoral fin, extending to below middle of dorsal fin base (Ref. 84674).