This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: exposed area of first plates of mid-ventral and ventral series narrower than the naked areas surrounding each plate; sexual dimorphism in dentition, with males having more robust and fewer teeth compared to females; lateronasal plate present; keels along the lateral series of plates absent; preadipose azygous plates absent; two posteronasal plates; females with 24-33, modally 26 premaxillary and 22-31, modally 26 dentary teeth; extra canal-bearing plate located between supraopercle and dorsal opening of the preopercular canal; transverse light bars over body; plates of the lateral series bearing odontodes roughly equal in size, making caudal peduncle surface smooth and rounded in cross-section; reduced adipose fin, extending over three or four plates, usually three; presence of a lateronasal plate; nare length 9.9-14.1% (Ref. 133471).