The body is deep and compressed with two dorsal fins having 3 spines and 25–26 rays, respectively. It has 22–24 anal fin rays, a scaled cheek, and a scaleless area around the lips, extending posteriorly from the corner of the mouth. A tympanum is present, and there’s a prominent groove extending from the front of the eye. The mouth is terminal. The coloration is yellowish-grey to brown, with dark brown or greenish centers on scales. The anterior spines have a pale area, and there’s a broad blackish band with a pale line from above the mouth to halfway across the cheek. The soft dorsal, anal, and caudal fins have broad blackish borders.