This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: a dark, prominent occipital spot; eye 33.7-39.3% HL; caudal-peduncle depth 10.3-12.9% SL; slender body 16.7- 21.3% SL; no dark spots on nape and dorsal midline of trunk; dorsal/anal fin-ray formula 9/8; pectoral-fin rays 16-17, some are branched; cephalic sensory-pore system pattern group I (complete); 5th segmented pelvic-fin ray 8-16% of 4th ray; non-fimbriated genital papilla; absence of 2 orange patches behind the eye in live or fresh individuals (Ref. 85556).