This species is distinguished by the following characters: D1 VI, D2 I,8 (rarely 7 or 9 soft rays); A II,8-9; pectoral fin rays 12-14, unbranched and compressed distally; tubed lateral-line scales 22-23; median predorsal scales 4-5; total gill rakers 4-6 + 14-16, developed gill rakers 1-3 + 13-16 = 15-18; gill rakers on ceratobranchial 9-10; body relatively slender, depth 3.2-4.8 in SL, and body width 1.6-1.8 in the depth; eye diameter 3.2-3.7 in HL; first dorsal spine 1.1-1.3 in second spine; second dorsal spine 2.6-3.6, spine of second dorsal fin 5.1-6.7, and second anal spine 6.0-7.4, all in

head length (HL); pectoral-fin length 5.8-6.7 and pelvic-fin length 5.7-6.1 in SL; caudal-peduncle length 1.05-1.4 in distance between pelvic spine insertion and anal-fin origin; preopercular edge and ridge smooth, with the ventral edge weakly ossified and usually slightly crenulate; palatines with 1-3 series of small teeth; first infraorbital pore a complex of about 7 small pores; scales large, mostly ctenoid; tubed lateral-line scales with vertical series of papillae; the tip of light organ on each side of tongue bound by membrane (Ref. 90035).