This species is distinguished from all its congeners by the following set of characters: ID pattern1-2-2-2-2; caudal-fin rays 12; vertebrae, abdominal 9 and total 45-48; hypurals 4; D 81-88; A 68-74; ongitudinal scale rows 56-66; transverse scales 21-26; scale rows on the head posterior to the lower orbit 11-14; with a well-developed fleshy ridge on the posterior ocular side lower jaw; upper and lower eyes covered with a membrane; a membranous flap contiguous from anterior nostril to anteroventral margin of lower eye;

upper head lobe wider than the lower head lobe; differs friom S. microrhynchus and S. holothuriae, by having a shorter head and postorbital lengths, longer snout and predorsal lengths, a different snout shape, and with the anterior margin of the upper eye equal to, or slightly in advance of, that of the lower eye. Colouraton: ocular-side uniformly yellow to light brown; blind-side uniformly white without pepper dots; distinct dermal spots on both sides of the bases of the dorsal and anal fins; peritoneum bluish black on its dorsalmost aspect (Ref. 109580).