This species possess the following characters: adults with four orbital thorns per side; distinctly smaller dorsolateral tail thorns, median tail thorns up to 60; lateral tail folds in posterior half of tail only; snout length 4.4-5.2 times orbit diameter; upper jaw tooth rows 34-40; pectoral-fin radials 63-66. Colouration: adults are blackish-gray dorsally and darker blackish-brown with white ampular pores ventrally, but paler violet-brown in juveniles (Ref. 123885).