This species is distinguished by the following characters: D1 VII; D2 I/17; A I/11-13; P 17-18; nape completely with cycloid scales; width of head 1.4-1.6 of depth; interorbit 0.7-0.9 eye diameter; angle of jaws ending below anterior edge of eye; snout 1.6-1.8 orbit of eye; upper lip 0.9-1.3 lateral preorbital area; pelvic length 0.6 abdomen length; 2 suborbital transverse rows below row b; subortbital transverse rows 1, 2, and 3 begin more distant from orbit than row 4 (Ref. 75708).

Description: Body moderately elongate, laterally compressed at caudal peduncle. Head large, depressed, wider than deep. Snout longer than eye, with gently oblique profile. Anterior nostril short, flared; posterior nostril with raised rim. Eyes relatively small, around 1/6 of head length, with moderate nterorbital space. Mouth large, angle of jaws ending below anterior edge of eye. Upper lip swollen toward angle of jaws, in the largest specimen less markedly expanded. Branchiostegal membrane attached along entire lateral margin of isthmus from immediately anterior to pectoral margin. Dentary with enlarged conical teeth in outermost and innermost rows, irregular rows of smaller teeth in between. Nape scaled completely with cycloid scales (Ref. 75708).