This small species is distinguished by the following characters: males with concave, cup-shaped urogenital papilla with undulating margins; complete cephalic sensory-canal pore system (pattern I); dorsal/anal fin-ray formula 8/8; posterior body with four broad, dark subcutaneous bars; radiating from lower eye are three broad, dark bars and another along posterior margin of preoperculum; nape with four dark, transverse bars and a series of dark spots along dorsal midline of body; ventral pectoral-fin base with a large, dark oblong spot and two more on dorsal portion either as two separate spots or fusing into a dark oblong spot angling anterodorsally (Ref. 97536).