This species is distinguished from all of its congeners by the following characters: with a conspicuous reduction of pigmentation and orbit in most specimens; with smaller preadipose azygous plates; presence of dorsal-fin spinelet; parieto-supraoccipital fontanel located mesially on bone; no distinct dark brown or black stripe from anteroventral portion of eye to upper lip lateral area, and absence of striated small platelets on ventral surface of trunk; infraorbital 1 generally with well-developed ventral laminar, or moderately-developed; with poorly-developed serrations on posterior margin of pectoral spine; dorsal fin, even in conspicuously colored specimens, with only dark brown or black chromatophores concentrated on rays, forming spots in some specimens, the membranes hyaline, or with isolated dark brown or black chromatophores on membranes, not forming any conspicuous pattern; nuchal plate not externally visible (Ref. 118110).