Diagnosis: body slightly elongate; head length 3.7-4.3x SL; 2.5-6 scales between anus and anal-fin base; 12-16 scales around caudal peduncle; 12-18 pectoral branched rays; 8-10 pelvic branched rays; series of separate spots along lateral line, not always distinct (frequently suffused by marbled color pattern on sides); scale formula 4-5.5/40-46 (Ref. 2936, 86396). 43-46 pored (except terminal 1-2) lateral line scales (Ref. 81638). Tip of pelvic fin extending distinctly beyond vent; dorsal portions of body with distinct dark, vertically oriented dark marks forming saddle-shaped pigmentation pattern; various dark marks on lateral surface of body without prominent, horizontally elongate dark spots on mid-lateral surface of body; dark pigmentation on body above horizontal through base of pectoral fin (Ref. 81638). 12-14 (Ref. 81638) or 11-14 (Ref. 2936, 86396) total dorsal fin branched rays. 10-12 (Ref. 81638) or 8-12 (Ref. 2936, 86396) total anal fin branched rays.

Description: snout blunt; body rather subcylindrical in cross-section; eyes in lateral position (Ref. 2936, 86396). Body depth 0.16-0.19x SL and distinctly flattened ventrally along underside of head and chest; mouth subterminal with single row of bicuspid teeth in each jaw; premaxilla and dentary with 4-5 teeth; maxilla edentulous; lower jaw width posteriorly approximately equal to one-half orbital height in larger specimens; pelvic fin with middle rays in larger specimens distinctly produced; adipose fin usually present, sometimes absent; body scales ctenoid and of moderate size; lateral line scales completely pored in larger specimens other than for terminal 1-2; 4-5 scales between anal fin origin and lateral line; D: II-III,10-11 and A: II-III,8-9 (Ref. 81638). 6-11 scales between posterior end of adipose fin to caudal fin base (Ref. 2936, 86396).

Coloration: preserved specimens tan, darker dorsally; horizontal band from tip of snout to anterior margin of orbit, irregular dark pigmentation posterior to orbit; live specimens with pink fins and some with bright red lips (Ref. 81638). More details on fin coloration in preserved specimens can be found in Ref. 81638.