This species is distinguished by the following characters: D X,18; A III,8; pectoral rays 17; lateral-line scales 44; gill rakers 12 + 25; body depth 2.05 in SL; head length 2.5 in SL; orbit diameter 4.5 in HL; with accessory scales, dense on head and nape; scales dorsally on snout extending forward to upper lip; small scales cover mandible; rugose lips from dense papillae, enlarged on front of lower lip; maxilla nearly reaching a vertical at rear edge of eye, its posterior end and corners slightly rounded; each side at front of upper jaw with 6 short and stout conical teeth, projecting slightly upward and fully exposed when mouth closed (along with most of the villiform teeth); no teeth on tongue; preopercle corner strongly angular, no spine, upper margin finely serrate, while the lower one is crenulate; dorsal spines progressively longer, the tenth 3.2 in HL; second and third dorsal soft rays prolonged as a very long filament, ray length 1.5 in SL; lunate caudal fin with extremely long filamentous lobes, fin length 1.1 in SL; third anal spine longer than second, 2.95 in HL; preserved color in alcohol pale yellowish with black edges on the last 6 interspinous membranes of dorsal fin, when fresh, pink and yellow (Ref. 84847).