The species is distinguished by the following characters: vertebrae 11 + 28-30 = 39-41, dorsal fin rays 64-72, anal fin rays 49-54; outer pseudoclasper is broad, wingshaped with single curved supporter; inner pseudoclasper with three lobes, consisting of a branched supporter, anterior branch curved and long, posterior branch short, and a thick fleshy lobe in between;

penis with no abrupt change in thickness; opercular spine with single, sharp tip in small specimens and bi- or tri-furcated in specimens > 45 mm SL; scale patch on cheeks is broad, with 8-10 vertical scale rows; otolith length: height ratio 2.2 (Ref. 57883).