This relatively small species is distinguished by the following characters: 3 continuous ocular side lateral lines (dorsolateral, midlateral and ventrolateral), none on the blind side; scales on cephalodorsal line 6-9, dorsolateral line 66-79, midlateral line 67-73, ventrolateral line 38-62; scales above dorsolateral line 3-4, between dorsolateral and midlateral lines 11-12; pored scales with well developed blackish posterior flap present on dorsolateral, midlateral, cephalodorsal and mandibulo-opercular lines; contiguous eyes; mouth no fringe, reaching posteriorly to vertical line at middle of lower eye; ocular side with 2 nostrils, the anterior nostrils developed, tubular; dorsal and anal fins with dark brown to blackish dapples; 104-112 dorsal-fin rays; 83-88 anal-fin rays; 10 caudal-fin rays; vertebrae 8-9+43-45=52-54; body uniformly brown; dorsal and anal fins dark brown to blackish, with dappled marks on ocular side, uniformly dense pigmentation on blind side (Ref. 75201).