Diagnosis: dorsal head profile strongly convex; head length 33.0-33.7 %SL; snout length 26.1-27.5 % head length; lower jaw length 36.9-37.0 % head length; outer oral dentition well developed bicuspid; premaxillary pedicel length 23.6-25.0 % head length; lachrymal depth 16.3-17.0 % head length; cheek depth 14.4-15.2 % head length; interorbital width 13.3-15.6 % head length; body depth 30.6-31.6 %SL (Ref. 55898).

Description: dorsal and ventral body profiles about evenly convex; head small; snout short, steep and pointed; mouth relatively large; gape inclined at about 10-15° to horizontal; maxilla extending beyond vertical at anterior margin of eye; outer oral teeth bicuspid; inner oral teeth slender, unicuspid or shouldered bicuspid; 1-2 series of scales on cheek; cheek very shallow; eyes large; upper margin of eye touching dorsal head profile; lower pharyngeal jaw slender; all pharyngeal teeth small and slender; gill-rakers on lower limb short (Ref. 55898).

Coloration: Preserved: Females and immature males: body pale brownish yellow; 6 faint vertical bars below dorsal fin; dorsal fin pale grey with grey tips; all other fins pale yellowish (Ref. 55898). Mature males: body darker; 6 dark vertical bars below dorsal fin; snout and chin brown; brown lachrymal stripe; dorsal fin grey with white tips; caudal fin grey; anal and ventral fins grey with black leading edges (Ref. 55898).