This species is distinguished from all its congeners by the following set of characters: ID pattern1-2-2-2-2; caudal-fin rays 12; vertebrae abdominal 9 (3 + 6), total 46-49; hypurals 4; D 85-90; A 71-78; longitudinal scale rows 72-81; transverse scale rows 28-31; scale rows on head posterior to lower orbit 15-17; relatively wide body (BD= 27.2-30.2% of SL); PAL slightly long (22.5-27.6% of SL); head short (HL= 20.4–22.7% of SL), its length usually shorter than its width (HW/HL= 1.07–1.16); postorbital length relatively long (POL= 71.0-74.8% of HL); upper head lobe usually larger than lower head lobe; dorsal-fin origin at vertical through posterior margin of pupil of upper eye; predorsal length short (PDL= 16.1-21.7% of HL); snout short (SNL= 11.7-15.5% of HL; SNL/ED= 0.87–1. 39), rounded to obliquely blunt anteriorly; anterior margin of the upper eye usually in advance of anterior margin of lower eye; fleshy ridge well developed on posterior part of ocular-side lower jaw; with membrane covering both eyes; continuous fleshy flap between ocular-side anterior nostril and lower part of eye. Colouration: ocular-side pigmentation uniformly yellow to light brown, dermal melanophores present at bases of anteriormost dorsal-fin rays; blind-side pigmentation uniformly white, usually with pepper-dots and dermal melanophores at bases of dorsal- and anal-fin rays; both sides of bases of anteriormost dorsal- and analfin rays with distinct dermal spots; peritoneum bluish-black (Ref. 126065).