Diagnosis: snout 28.3-31.3 % head length; lower jaw length 34.6-37.0 % head length; head 32.1-33.8 %SL; premaxillary pedicel 24.9-28.7 % head length; 6 vertical bars below dorsal fin; dorsal head profile convex but not strongly convex; cheek depth 16.1-18.8 % head length (Ref. 55898).

Description: medium sized, very elongate species; body fusiform; dorsal and ventral profile almost symmetric about the horizontal; head small; snout long and pointed but not angular; gape inclined at about 20° to horizontal; maxillary extending to vertical at anterior margin of eye; outer oral teeth bicuspid anteriorly, unicuspid posteriorly, densely packed; inner oral teeth shouldered tricuspid; 2-3 series of scales on cheek; eye large; upper margin of eye touching dorsal head profile; lower pharyngeal jaw normal in shape, all teeth fine and slender; gill-rakers on lower limb relatively short (Ref. 55898).

Coloration: Preserved: Females and immature males: body pale brownish yellow; 6 narrow vertical bars below dorsal fin, not extending onto belly; snout darker than base color; dorsal fin light grey; faint grey spots merged into oblique bands on soft dorsal; all other fins pale brownish yellow (Ref. 55898). Breeding males: vertical bars more prominent; snout and nape dark; chin black; belly pale; dorsal fin dark with pale lappets and tips; anal and ventral fins with dark leading edge (Ref. 55898).