This species is distinguished from its southwestern Atlantic congeners by the following set of characters: D XX,9-11 (rarely XIX or XXI); A II,17-21; pectoral-fin rays14-15 (rarely 13); length of third pelvic-fin ray contained 2.5 to 3.0 times in second pelvic-fin ray; lateral-line scales 48-56; total nuchal cirri 24-36; pectoral-fin base and midline before dorsal-fin no scales; breast usually fully scaled in males, often naked in females; pores 2-3 from preopercular canal onto opercle. Colouration: pattern dominated by 5-6 (rarely 7), saddle-like bars on body, extending to spiny dorsal fin (Ref. 123106).