This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: ascending process of premaxilla is short and blunt, its height about two times maximum width, and shorter than horizontal length of premaxilla, its height about 2/5 of the horizontal length; premaxilla has a single lateral process; posterior upper margin of dentary with a small process; palatine toothless; midlateral scales are usually with vertical (including neotype) or chevron-shaped central groove, in some specimens the scales are with a round central pit on trunk; a short spatular outgrowth found usually on the posterior margin of anterior predorsal scales, no outgrowth on posterior predorsal scales; posterior margin of midlateral scales are round; head large, HL 27-30% SL; midlateral scales 33-36; total vertebrae 36-39; gill rakers on lower arch 21-24; midlateral band narrow, width about 1/3 to 3/5 of width of midlateral scale, its lower margin not reaching to lower margin of midlateral scale at the level of anal-fin origin (width of midlateral band 9.5-14% of body depth and 25-41% of caudal peduncle depth at the level of anal-fin origin) (Ref. 121273).