This species is distinguished by the following traits: maxillary barbel extending to the tip of the interopercular spines; 0.5 mm long lower barbel and 2.5 mm long maxillary barbel; two, flat, recurved teeth on the end of the maxillary concealed just in front of the barbel; five premaxillary teeth diminishing in size from the central tooth; mandibles widely separated from each other, each with approximately five minute teeth; teeth concealed by the lip; five spines in the main row of the interopercle, the middle ones directed backward; distance between origin of ventrals and base of middle caudal rays 2 times its distance from the snout; about five spines in supplementary rows; five spines in the main row of the opercle, about ten in supplementary rows; origin of anal fin behind the origin of the dorsal fin; the last dorsal ray over the middle of the anal ray; distance between origin of dorsal and base of middle caudal rays 2.8 times its distance from the snout; and caudal fin truncated with numerous accessory rays (Eigenmann, 1917).