This species is distinguished by the following characters: D 11-12 (usually 12); A 12-14; pectoral-fin rays 11; lateral-line scales 47-49; total vertebrae 48-49; its snout length is much greater than eye diameter, 6.0-7.1% SL or 21.6-22.6% HL; interorbital space 3.8-4.9, mean 4.4% SL; anal-fin base 18.0-19.4% SL; presence of a deep suborbital pore with prominent surrounding fimbriae extending upwards along the rear margin of the eye; rudimentary adipose fin scarcely visible without magnification; coloration of preserved and alive fish is mottled brown on back and whitish ventrally, separated by a prominent dark-brown to blackish mid-lateral stripe (Ref. 114926).

This species differs further from sageneus with the brown mottling on the back being denser in the latter and the pattern of brown bars across the lips is more prominent (Ref. 114926).