This small species (attaining about 66.5 cm DW) has the following set of characters: colour of dorsal surfaces yellowish brown, usually with variable, irregular dark blotches; tail with a very weak ventral skin fold; stinging spine(s) are relatively long (longest spine 10.3-18.6% DW); interorbital space is shallowly concave in adult males; anterior margins of pectoral fins moderately convex; cranial fontanelle (visible in dorsal view without dissection) is relatively narrow with mostly straight lateral margins; claspers of adult males 6.6-10.2% DW; predorsal length 66.6-78.8% DW; each jaw with 7 rows of teeth, with a broad median row flanked by three smaller rows on each side; pectoral-fin radials 79-85 (excluding rostral propterygial radials anterior of the eyes); total vertebral centra (including synarcual) 115-124; males mature by 42.9 cm DW (Ref. 132213).