Diagnosis: head length 34.1-35.1 %SL; head width 39.7-41.4 % head length; snout length 31.9-34.8 % head length; lower jaw length 35.9-36.8 % head length; premaxillary pedicel length 29.2-30.8 % head length; outer oral teeth unicuspid; cheek depth 22.3-23.5 % head length; lachrymal depth 22.6-23.7 % head length; interorbital width 18.6-22.0 % head length and 47.0-54.5 % head width; lower pharyngeal teeth small and slender; predorsal distance 37.0-38.2 %SL; body depth 33.5-37.9 %SL (Ref. 55898).

Description: dorsal body profile more strongly convex than ventral body profile; dorsal head profile convex on nape; snout profile straight; snout relatively long, pointed and angular; mouth average-sized; maxilla extending for about 80% of distance between snout tip and vertical at anterior margin of eye; lower jaw large; mouth and lower jaw inclined at about 15° to horizontal; outer oral dentition unicuspid, teeth long and slender, well-spaced; inner oral teeth unicuspid, long and slender; 3 series of scales on cheek; lower pharyngeal jaw relatively long and slender; all pharyngeal teeth fine and slender, close-set; gill-rakers on lower limb of moderate size and pointed; soft rays of anal and dorsal fins prolonged in mature males (Ref. 55898).

Coloration: Preserved: Females and immature males: body brownish; 7 vertical bars below dorsal fin, only visible on dorsal part of body; dorsal fin grey with darker tips; oblique bands on soft dorsal; caudal fin with spots on inter-radial membranes, forming vertical bands; anal and ventral fins pale with darker leading edges (Ref. 55898). Mature males: relatively dark; dark vertical bars extending onto belly; head dark, with black lachrymal stripe; chin and lower part of operculum black; dorsal fin dark grey with black tips; caudal fin grey; anal fin dark grey; ventral fin grey with dark leading edge (Ref. 55898).