This moderate-sized species is distinguished by the following characters: D2 I,6-8 (usually I,7); A I,6-7 (usually 7); pectoral rays 14-17 (usually 16); segmented caudal rays 15-16 in 9/7 pattern; lateral scales 24-27; transverse scale count 7-9; predorsal scales 6-8; opercle with at least 2 rows of cycloid scales and rarely with a cycloid scale on cheek, right behind the eye; shoulder girdle is smooth or with a narrow bony flange; tongue is short, may be greatly reduced; in males, teeth in outer row of upper jaw are slightly flattened, blunt-tipped or pointed, with two curved symphyseal canines behind anterior tooth rows; females with outer row teeth of upper jaw small, compressed and blunt-tipped; scale margins edged with brown, about 5-6 small brown elongate blotches along mid-side of the body and posteriormost blotch at hypural crease extending onto caudal fin and

coalescing with narrow vertical dark bar on fin base (Ref. 126575),