Distinguished from other congeners by the following combinations of features: fin shape and rays counts: second dorsal fin rays I/10; anal fin rays I/10; pectoral fin rays 18-19; first dorsal fin of male with fourth and/or fifth spines longest; small to no interval between first- and second-dorsal-fin bases in male (usually less than 1/3 of the length of the first-dorsal-fin base; the fin bases are often connected); cephalic sensory pore D single; preopercular sensory canal usually with two pores, M’ and O’; no enlarged lobes or projections in front of the urogenital papilla of males; lateral scales

reaching anteriorly beyond the area below the origin of the first dorsal fin; scales with large, spike-like ctenii laterally on the trunk in male; and colouration of male without red markings on the body and fins, and with three black vertical lines on the light-blue belly, snout often bearing light blue, second dorsal fin being dark brown proximally and white or light brown distally, with one (sometimes two or three) black spot at the anterior part of the second dorsal fin, and anal fin being dark brown proximally and translucent distally (Ref. 125534).