This species is distinguished by the following characters: ventral surface fully naked and interspaces of principal bucklers on dorsal surface lacking dermal spinules: D 5-6 (mainly 6); pectoral-fin rays 13; blunt subopercular buckler with a stout anterior-directed spinelet usually present; rostral spine directed rather more upward than forward; relatively few and loosely arranged bucklers; all bucklers are blunt; appressed anal fin reaching caudal fin base; it is the smallest species of the genus reaching 51.1 mm SL in adults (Ref. 92977).