This species is distinguished by the following combination of characters: pectoral-fin rays 17, all rays unbranched; no palatine teeth; second preopercular spine well-developed, its length longer than third or fourth spines; long snout, its length 12.8-13.1% (mean 12.9%) SL and 27.9-28.6% (mean 28.2%) HL; small eye, orbit diameter 12.3-13.2% (mean 12.8%) SL and 26.9-28.8% (27.8%) HL; narrow head, its width 27.4-28.3% (27.8%) SL; long and shallow caudal peduncle, length and depth 16.9-17.6% (17.3%) SL and 7.1-8.2% (7.7%) SL respectively; long predorsal length 42.2-43.1% (42.7%) SL; long preanal length 74.9-75.0% (74.9%) SL; long prepelvic length 43.1-43.5% (43.3%) SL (Ref. 82686).