Distinguished from its congeners in having the following unique combination of characters: body dark brown, dorsum with 7-8 cream bars, side with bars complete or interrupted to form an ocellus pattern, head dorsum dark brown with cream spots and blotches; caudal fin red when live; lack of secondary rostrum; lack of a postoral pouch; gill slit angular, subopercular groove present and continuous to pectoral fin origin; a rounded snout when viewed dorsally; presence of sublacrimal groove; abdomen without scales; 56-61 scales on lateral line; pelvic fin not overlapping anal fin origin, adpressed dorsal fin not overlapping anal fin origin (Ref. 55025).