Diagnosis: 53-68 scales in longitudinal series on flanks, plus up to 13 scales on caudal fin base; 17-24 (usually 18 or more) scales in rearward transverse series (Ref. 57413). No discrete dark spot present on upper pectoral fin base, if dark pigment present, not distinct from pigment on nape; sensory papillae on upper rear field of opercle form a forked row (Ref. 81660).

Description: 43-57 (usually 48-55) small, cycloid predorsal scales (Ref. 57413, 81660), extending to interorbital space (Ref. 57413). Some small cycloid scales on operculum, occasionally extending onto preoperculum and even onto lower part of cheek; 53-65 (perhaps reaching 68, usually 55-57) scales in longitudinal series on body, plus up to 13 scales on caudal fin base (total longitudinal scale count about 57-70, usually about 64)(Ref. 57413). 17-24 scales (usually 18-20, perhaps up to 24) in rearward transverse series (Ref. 57413, 81660). 1st dorsal fin: VI; 2nd dorsal fin: I,8 (rarely 9); anal fin: I,8 (rarely 9); pectoral fins: 16-18 (usually 17)(Ref. 57413, 81660). Caudal fin rounded with 15 (rarely 14) segmented rays; upper, oblique, opercular neuromast row os distant from row oi; 2 vertical opercular ot rows; 4th vertical, suborbital oc row sometimes extending ventrally below horizontal row d; vertical suborbital neuromast rows may sometimes be proliferated (see Miller 1998, fig.3) (Ref. 57413).

Coloration: Preserved specimens: body color ranging from pale brown to a rusty or dark brown, or purplish-brown in very dark specimens; body darker dorsally than ventrally, except in pale brown specimens; ventral part of head dark, with several pale spots; up to 3 dark brown bars on side of head, radiating posteriorly and ventrally from eye toward preoperculum and operculum (Ref. 57413, 81660). Upper bar extends towards dark spot on dorsal part of pectoral fin base; another spot may be present on ventral margin of pectoral fin base in dark specimens; both pectoral spots absent in pale fishes (Ref. 57413). Flanks with patches of dark spots in longitudinal series dorsal to midline, terminating in a dark spot on dorsal margin of caudal fin base; in some fish these patches are more expanded and may form a continuous, broad band running from pectoral-fin base to caudal-fin base; this band may become continuous with upper pigmentation bar on head; 1st dorsal fin with 2 dark brown or black longitudinal bands separated by a translucent band; another translucent band at distal margin of fin; 2nd dorsal and anal fins with 4-6 dark longitudinal bands; caudal fin often heavily pigmented, with 5-7 vertical or crescentric bands, sometimes confluent; caudal fin sometimes with white distal margin and fin base sometimes with dark vertical band; dark but indistinct bands running vertically down pectorals and transversely across anterior parts of pelvics (Ref. 57413, 81660). Some specimens uniformly dark brown with dusky median and paired fins marked with poorly contrasted bands of small spots (Ref. 81660). Live specimens: dark patches on body and fins reddish-brown or purplish-brown; pale parts of fins and body yellowish (Ref. 57413, 81660).