This species is distinguished by the following characters: D 36; A 16; pectoral-fin rays 17; pelvic fin rays 5; lateral-line scales 86; no gap in subocular sensory canal; gill rakers 3 + 21; vertebrae 53; body depth at dorsal-fin origin 10.9 in SL: head length 3.75 in SL; eye large, 4.15 in HL; large mouth slightly oblique, the upper-jaw length 3.05 in HL; lower jaw projecting, the tip narrowly rounded; teeth in jaws absent; pelvic fins present, 3.75 in HL; colour when fresh is bluish gray dorsally on body to one scale row below bluish white lateral line, the scale edges are black, with a broad bluish white zone on side of body, ending ventrally in an indistinct stripe of brown blotches beginning at base of pectoral fin, becoming blackish posteriorly, and ending ventrally on caudal peduncle and base of caudal fin, the body below stripe is light gray, the snout reddish gray, the iris is pale yellowish, dorsal fin whitish, caudal fin reddish on basal half, except for a rectangular white bar at base, whitish distally; colour when preserved: body yellowish brown dorsally, the scales narrowly rimmed in black; a broad light purplish gray zone on side of body, abruptly pale tan ventrally below level of lower edge of pectoral-fin base, a series of 22 oblique black lines on each side of abdomen, and 3 longitudinal black lines midventrally; fins pale yellowish (Ref. 97535).