Diagnosis: Dorsal rays XII,9; anal rays III,5; pectoral rays 17-18 (rarely 18). Longitudinal scale series 44--48 (modally 46). Body depth 2.8-3.05 in SL; head length (HL) 2.2-2.3 in SL; snout length 3.0-3.15 in HL; orbit diameter 4.65--4.95 in HL; nearly one-half of orbit extending above dorsal profile of head; interorbital width 6.75-7.2 in HL. Pair of interorbital ridges flaring posteriorly, then curving medially to join slight incurved ridge at front of occipital pit; median interorbital ridge extending half way back in interorbital space; occipital pit shallow and not flat. Coronal spines and pretympanic spines absent. Suborbital pit not well developed; suborbital ridge with 4 spines, the first on lacrimal; two ventral spines on lacrimal, one directed mainly anteriorly and the other curving posteriorly. First dorsal spine 1.9-2.4 in second spine; third dorsal spine longest, 2.2-2.7 in HL; eleventh dorsal spine 1.55-2.0 in twelfth spine; second anal spine 1.65-2.0 in HL. Supraoccipital tentacle absent. Body color variable, the darkest blotches usually above tip of upper opercular spine, two on lateral line, two obliquely above and forward of these, two in soft portion of dorsal fin, and one in anal fin (Ref. 57579).