This species possess the following distinguishing characters: cleithral spine, 5-9% SL), ventral to the opercular spine; a black blotch on the between dorsal-fin spines 3-5, rarely up on 6th spine; naked prepectoral and interpelvic area, usually scaled breast, scaled belly; pectoral fin dark with 13 connected rays, often with several white or light spots on lateral edge of black area and 2-3 dark spots on upper edge of fin, pectoral length 39-50% SL, longest pectoral free ray 31-45% SL; 0-2 epibranchial gill rakers, 5-10 ceratobranchial gill rakers, short (2% SL); 27 vertebrae (Ref. 54796).