Anterior nostril pierced on front side of a flap; processus dentiformis present; very shallow median notch in upper lip, lower lip with a median incision; lower jaw with a shallow notch; lateral line complete; anus about 1-2 eye diameters in front of anal-fin origin; 8.5 branched dorsal-fin rays; 5.5 branched anal-fin rays; caudal fin emarginate, with 9+8 branched rays; axillary pelvic lobe present; body with a midlateral row of 12-15 vertically elongated blotches, usually only those posterior to dorsal-fin origin distinct, anterior ones more or less fused and not very well defined; a broad midlateral stripe superimposed on these blotches, usually darker anteriorly and masking the anterior blotches; saddles along back very irregularly shaped, sometimes fused into an irregular stripe an caudal peduncle or forming squarish marks with pale centre on predorsal area; black bar at caudal-fin base complete, but not reaching dorsal and ventral midlines; a conspicuous elongate black spot at base of anterior dorsal-fin rays (Ref. 36949).