This species is distinguished from by the following characters: head and jaws slender; teeth sharp, slender, and smooth; intermaxillary teeth in one peripheral and one medial series; maxillary teeth in 2 rows, the outer row with 14-20 small teeth, while the inner row with 0-6 large, depressible teeth; dentary teeth in 1 row with 2 large fixed teeth at anterior end, followed by a single row of 15-20 small teeth, and 1 large, depressible tooth just behind the large anterior teeth; total vertebrae 123-128. Colour brown with irregular dendritic pale markings, not interconnected or chain-like; the dorsal fin with oblique, conspicuous, parallel streaks (on tail) (Ref. 121606).