Anterior nostril pierced on front side of a flap; processus dentiformis present; broad notch in upper lip, lower lip interrupted medially; a low, hard dorsal keel along caudal peduncle; lateral line complete; anus about 1-2 eye diameters in front of anal-fin origin; 8-9.5 branched dorsal-fin rays; 5.5 branched anal-fin rays; caudal fin emarginate, with 9+8 branched rays; axillary pelvic lobe present; body pale brown with 7-9 dark bars, wider than interspaces, not very regularly shaped or organized; bars in front of dorsal-fin origin much wider than those behind, usually less contrasted against background, wider along lateral line than on back; black bar at caudal-fin base long, not reaching dorsal and ventral midlines; top of head dotted; one or two low dark blotches along dorsal-fin base (Ref. 36949).