Can be differentiated from its congeners by the following combination of characters: absence of head pores but for two preopercular pores; body with large ocellate brown spot at mid-base of caudal fin, brown stripe running from tip of second first dorsal fin spine onto mid-side of body, and brown streak crossing cheek below eye to rictus; body compressed, head less so, with rounded to slightly pointed snout; jaws enlarged in large males; second dorsal rays I,7; anal rays I,8; pectoral rays 15-17, modally 16; longitudinal scales 25-29, modally 27; transverse scales backward 8-10; predorsal scales 11-15, cycloid, anteriormost few entering interorbital space (Ref. 56945).