Diagnosis: body depth 4.6-7 times in SL; head length 4.3-6 times in SL (Ref. 2970, 36901, 45485, 89080). Head 1.5-2 times longer than head depth (Ref. 2970). Snout length 2.5-3.8 times in HL, 1.1-1.7 times in postorbital length; eye lateral, its diameter 3.4-5.2 times in HL; interorbital distance 2.3-3.6 times in HL (Ref. 2970, 36901, 45485, 89080). Dorsal fin origin 0.8-1.1 times closer to tip of snout than to caudal fin (Ref. 2970), above anterior pelvic fin rays (Ref. 2970, 36901, 45485, 89080) or slightly more posterior (Ref. 2970). Anal fin 0.9-1.7 times further from pelvics than from caudal fin; pectoral fin length 0.8-1.3 times in HL; pelvic fin length 0.9-1.4 times in HL; caudal peduncle 1.4-2.2 times longer than deep (Ref. 2970). Mature males with opercular and postopercular organ (Ref. 2970, 36901). Mouth inferior, straight, its maximum width (including lips) 2.8-4 times in HL (Ref. 2970). Body brownish dorsally, yellowish ventrally (Ref. 2970, 36901, 45485, 89080). A pronounced brownish lateral band on flanks, either continuous (Ref. 2970, 36901, 45485, 89080) or made up of 8-10 sometimes very contrasting spots (Ref. 2970). Pale zone just above lateral band; medio-dorsal line often with small dotts (Ref. 2970). Dorsal fin sometimes with slightly darker, transversal band and dark spot at origin; caudal fin base darker, its rays slightly greyish (Ref. 36901, 45485, 89080). Pelvic fins with black spot at their base (Ref. 2970, 36901, 45485, 89080). Pectoral, pelvic and anal fins pale (Ref. 45485, 89080).

Description: details on internal anatomy (digestive tract, gills, swim bladder) given in Ref. 89077. Osteological details (skull, branchial and axial skeleton, dorsal and anal fins, pectoral and pelvic girdle, caudal fin) are given in Ref. 89082, 89095. Details on the morphological development of the opercular apparatus are given in Grande & Young 1997.