This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: 0-22 serrae on ventral margin of lacrimal; in specimens 15.0-20.0 cm SL, 14-36 serrae on cleithrum; in specimens >10.0 cm SL, head length 33.2-39.6 (mean 36.5) % of SL, orbit diameter 11.2-16.6 (14.1) % of SL, vertical orbit diameter 9.5-14.9 (13.5) % of SL; least interorbital width 5.8-10.3 (mean 7.3) % of SL; postorbital length 11.5-15.7 (mean 13.3) % of SL; in specimens > 10.0 cm SL pre-pelvic-fin length 38.0-44.7 (mean 41.5) % of SL; first dorsal-fin spine length 4.5-11.7 (6.7) % of SL; second dorsal-fin spine length 11.2-22.7 (16.1) % of SL; in juveniles <7.0 cm SL, spine at angle of preopercle relatively short, moderately serrated and membrane of spinous dorsal-fin with broad central translucent area (Ref. 116322).