Description: Depth of body 2.5 times in total length; length of head 3 times in total length (Ref. 130264). Snout obtuse, with straight or convex profile, as long as the eye, which a little exceeds interorbital width and is contained 3.3 times in length of head; mouth extending to below anterior border of eye or a little beyond; maxillary exposed at the end; lips rather thick; 3 series of tricuspid teeth and an outer series of rather large bicuspid teeth, 40-42 in the upper jaw; the cusps subequal and very obtuse (Ref. 130264). Gill-rakers short, 8 on lower part of anterior arch (Ref. 130264). Dorsal fin with 15 spines and 9-10 soft rays; spines increasing in length to the last, which measures nearly half length of head; longest soft rays 2/3 length of head; anal with 3 spines and 8-9 soft rays; third spine shorter than last dorsal spine; pectoral fin barely 3/4 length of head, not extending to origin of anal fin; pelvic fin reaching origin of anal fin or a little beyond; caudal fin rounded (Ref. 130264). Scales ctenoid, 29-31 in lateral series; 2.5-3 scales above lateral line, 10-11 scales below lateral line, upper lateral line with 20-22 scales, lower lateral line with 10-11 scales; large scales on the opercle; 3-4 series of scales on the cheek (Ref. 130264).

Colouration: Dark olive-brown, with ill-defined black crossbars; a black vertical bar below the anterior half of the eye and a black opercular spot; fins grey; male with two or three round yellow spots on the anal fin (Ref. 130264).