This species is distinguished by the following characters: precaudal vertebrae 16-18; first gill arch with long gill rakers 13-17; pectoral-fin rays 16-18; HL:HD 1.73-2.01; most head spines are weak, present on ethmoidal, lacrimal (ridge), prefrontal, interorbital, sphenotic, outer posttemporal, inner preopercular rim and absent on supraorbital, 5th infraorbital, supratemporal, inner posttemporal, outer preopercular rim; opercular spine sharp and extruding; opercular flap small; lower lateral line pores until beginning of anal fin 23; moderately broad dentition patch on vomer with 2-5 rows of teeth and on palatines 3-5 rows of teeth; otolith with single colliculum; OL:OH = 1.3; OL:TCL = 2.45 (Ref. 125143).