Diagnosis: head length 32.8-33.6 %SL; snout length 27.3-29.8 % head length; lower jaw length 34.9-37.1 % head length; outer oral dentition well developed bicuspid; cheek depth 17.9-20.5 % head length; interorbital width 17.2-19.5 % head length; eye diameter 39.5-41.0 % head length; body depth 31.3-24.2 %SL (Ref. 55898).

Description: dorsal body profile convex; ventral body profile almost straight; head small; snout short and steep; mouth small; gape inclined at about 15° to horizontal; maxilla extending to beyond vertical at anterior margin of eye; outer oral teeth bicuspid, becoming unicuspid posteriorly; inner oral teeth tricuspid; cheek shallow; 1-2 series of scales on cheek; lower pharyngeal jaw normal; a few central pharyngeal teeth enlarged but not molariform; eye large; upper margin of eye not touching dorsal head profile; gill-rakers on lower limb short (Ref. 55898).

Coloration: Preserved: Females and immature males: body pale brownish yellow; 6-7 faint vertical bars below dorsal fin, only visible on dorsal part of body; dorsal fin pale grey with grey tips; caudal fin pale grey with grey trailing edge; all other fins pale (Ref. 55898). Mature males: body darker; snout, chin and belly dark; dorsal fin grey, with dark grey submarginal band and white lappets and tips; broad grey oblique bands on soft dorsal; caudal grey with black trailing, upper and lower edges; anal and ventral fins with black leading edges (Ref. 55898).