This species is characterized by the following features: nape completely covered with cycloid scales; width of head 1.5-1.6 depth; interorbit 0.3-0.5 eye diameter; angle of jaws ending below the pupil; snout 1.4-1.5 orbit of eye; upper lip 0.7-0.8 lateral preorbital area; length of pelvic 0.7-0.8 abdomen length; anterior membrane with lateral lobes 0.4-0.5 width of the rear edge; depth of caudal peduncle 0.5-0.7 own length; 2 suborbital transverse rows below row b; suborbital transverse rows 1, 2, and 3 begin more distant from orbit than row 4; D1 V-VI; D2 I/17-19; A I/13; P 19 (Ref. 75708).

Description: Body moderately elongate, laterally compressed at caudal peduncle. Head large, depressed, wider than deep. Snout longer than eye, with gently oblique profile. Anterior nostril short, flared; posterior nostril with raised rim. Eyes of moderate size, around 1/5 of head length, with relatively narrow interorbital space. Mouth large, angle of jaws ending below anterior edge of eye. Upper lip not expanded or slightly expanded toward angle of jaws. Branchiostegal membrane attached along entire lateral margin of isthmus from immediately anterior to pectoral margin. Dentary with enlarged conical teeth in outermost and innermost rows, irregular rows of smaller teeth in-between (Ref. 75708).