This small species is characterized by the following: 5-6 dorsal-fin rays; 5-7 anal-fin rays; 20-25 pectoral-fin rays; 3 mandibular canal pores; head width in males 3.6-4.0 (mean 3.84) in SL; male anus has distinct papillae; the anal-fin length distance between anus and anal-fin origin 2.9; snout in males long, more or less pointed, conical; preorbital length in males 3.1–4.0 in head length; occipital region with a large dark pinkish blotch behind each eye; and the lower sides of the body with a row of dark blotches, scattered with white spots in between (Ref. 58096).