Diagnostic Description
provided by Fishbase
Distinguished from congeners by a low number (approximately 45) of teeth on each premaxilla, and ventral body surface unscaled in largest adults; interspinal membrane or frenum thick; branched caudal-fin rays 13-15; vertebrae 10+16=26; no rakers on first gill arch; transverse scales 44-62 rows; unscaled dorsal surface of head; operculum, cheeks and lateral portion of body to first dorsal fin irregularly scaled with small cycloid scales; ventral surface of body unscaled in largest adults, otherwise incompletely covered with small cycloid scales; remainder of body to caudal peduncle covered with imbricate ctenoid scales; anterior portion of caudal fin rays with smaller ctenoid or cycloid scales in one or two discrete rows dorsal and ventral to each ray (Ref. 12759).
Morphology
provided by Fishbase
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 10