This species is distinguished by the following characters: D XX+10; A II+19; pectoral 14 soft rays; ventrals three soft rays; the length of shortest pelvic ray is more than half the length of the longest pelvic ray; lateral line scales 55-56; presence of prepectoral scales which are considerably smaller than scales on body; belly scaled except breast area; colour pattern dominated by 6 vertical bars on the body, delineated in straight vertical lines; these bands barely enter the dorsal fin; transparent dorsal fin membranes (Ref. 98055).