This species is unique from its congeners by having the following characters: largely separated pelvic fin with rudimentary connecting membrane and no frenum; fifth segmented ray of pelvic fin short, length 67.9-71.9% of preceding ray; a narrow black blotch on distal tip of

first dorsal fin (not reaching posteriorly to third spine); pectoral-fin rays 19-21, usually 20; head and most of nape naked, no predorsal scales (except for one specimen, WAM-P.32537-001, with one predorsal scale); third spine of first dorsal fin greatly elongated, filamentous, obviously longer than preceding spine, typically with alternating pale and dusky (or yellow) bands when alive or fresh; faint, dusky blotches (not forming distinct vertical bar) below eye; sensory papilla x^1 and x^2 not continuous, interrupted by row trp; sensory papilla rows trp long, extending dorsally to well above a longitudinal line through row x^1; anterior tip of sensory papilla row b meeting row 4; sensory papilla row 4 long, dorsal tip close to eye; possess a relatively slender and pointed snout (this character difficult to quantify) (Ref. 84001).