This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: tentacle on dorsoposterior surface of the eye elongated; nape with well-developed membranous crest; nape scaled to above anterior half of opercle along sides with naked median along membranous crest, scales do not reach to above preopercle; opercle and pectoral base are naked; scales ctenoid laterally on trunk posterior to base of second dorsal fin 3rd element; lateral scale rows 51-58, often 51-56; transverse forward scale rows 23-29, usually 24-28; transverse rearward scale rows 14-16, usually 14-15; upper lip is usually constricted at premaxillary symphysis; infraorbital transverse papillae row 2 reaching eye margin dorsally and markedly short of longitudinal row d ventrally; with additional short transverse papillae rows between rows 2 and 3i; with dark saddle over caudal peduncle; snout length 34.9-45.4% HL; second dorsal-fin longest ray 1.1-1.6 head depth; pelvic fin is always reaching or passing anal-fin origin (Ref. 128815).