This species is distinguished in having the following characters: an expanded lateral wing of the cleithrum with a distinct, anterolaterally-directed triangular mid-lateral margin; D VI-I,9; A I,8; head depressed, depth 75.7-86.7% of width; lower jaw robust and prominent; mental frenum undeveloped; gill opening narrow, extending dorsally to a horizontal line through base of third, fourth or fifth pectoral-fin ray; tongue relatively narrow, anterior tip rounded or near pointed; sensory papillae rows on cheek representing essentially a longitudinal pattern, with short row b not extending anteriorly to a vertical through middle of eye; row c uniserial and long; row cp transverse, comprising 2-3 papillae; sensory papillae 2-4 (usually 3 or 4) forming a transverse row just behind chin (= row f); sensory canals on head well developed, with pores B', C (unpaired), D (unpaired), E, F, G, H', K', L', M', N and O'; vertebrae 10+16+26; P-V 3/II II I I 0/9 (Ref. 84000).