Body color limited to dark melanophores located on anterior half of body. Dorsal and anal fins are relatively short and symmetrical. Snout moderately acute. Terminal mouth with jaws slightly oblique and extends beyond anterior margin of pupil. Head length 21.3-25.5%; predorsal length 25.6-45.2%; body depth 13-16% of SL. Eye diameter 0.7-0.9 times the snout length and 0.9-1.3 times interorbital width. Head length 3.5-5.3 times interorbital width. Caudal fin has31-33 rays. Myomeres 44-47. Smallest larvae (1.7 - 3.5 mm SL) have large, stellate chromatophores at angle of jaw, scattered over hindbrain and at the base of 1st dorsal fin. Large larvae (5-10 mm SL) have additional chromatophores on midbrain, hindbrain, and on ventral surface of anterior half of visceral mass. Juvenile specimens have chromatophores scattered over anterior third of the body (Ref. 37039).