This species possess the following distinguishing characters: cleithral spine maybe present or absent, 7-9% SL when present, ventral to the opercular spine; sometimes with black pigment distally between spines 1-3 and 5-7 on interspinous membranes of first dorsal-fin; crenulate scales on trunk, scaled prepectoral, breast and belly; usually naked interpelvic area; outer surface of pectoral fin gray with 13 connected rays, black area on inner side of ventral 3 rays and lateral edge usually with several pale streaks; pectoral-fin length 42-51% SL, longest free ray 44-48% SL; 0-1 epibranchial gill rakers, 8-9 ceratobranchial gill rakers, length about 3% SL); 27 (rarely 26) vertebrae (Ref. 54796).