Diagnosis: laterosensory canal on lateral surface of head limited to arch of pores around ventral and posterior margins of orbit and associated with preopercle; 6th infraorbital (dermosphenotic) present, with laterosensory canal segment; infraorbital present at posterior margin of orbit; maxilla with 4 or fewer teeth, reaching past vertical through anterior margin of orbit; scaly process present at base of pelvic fin; dark pigmentation along lateral surface of body two scales wide or less; dark band on lateral surface of body passing through lower portion of caudal peduncle; base of caudal fin unpigmented or with rounded spot that falls distinctly short of dorsal and ventral margins of caudal peduncle (Ref. 81638).

Description: body moderately robust, more so anteriorly, depth 0.30-0.40x SL; head profile moderately acute anteriorly; premaxilla and dentary with 2 rows of teeth; teeth of outer row bicuspid, teeth of inner row conical; premaxilla with 10 teeth in outer row, maxilla with 2 teeth on anterodorsal margin, dentary with 15-16 teeth in outer row; laterosensory canal system of head not elaborated; body scales ctenoid and of moderate size; lateral line incomplete with pores on anterior 3-8 scales; 12 scales between dorsal fin origin and mid-ventral line (excluding median scales); D: II-IV,8-10; A: II-III,10-12 (Ref. 81638).

Coloration: preserved specimens dark tan; dorsal portion of head darker, with scattered dark pigmentation on lateral surface; post-orbital region with variably developed dark pigmentation sometimes in form of horizontal band continuous posteriorly with band on body; scales of dorsal and dorsolateral surfaces of body margined by dark pigmentation that forms reticulate pattern; pattern less obvious in specimens with darker overall pigmentation; distinct dark, slightly ventrally decurved band extends from immediately behind margin of opercle to base of lower portion of lower lobe of caudal fin; region of body dorsal of short lateral line scale series dusky, with darker area extending posteriorly as irregular dark band of variable length; region dorsal to band relatively do distinctly dark; caudal fin with basal portion of central rays of lower lobe with dark spot contiguous posteriorly with body stripe; remainder of caudal fin and all other fins variably dusky, typically more so in larger specimens (Ref. 81638).