The fish is characterized by having 9 dorsal spines and 11 dorsal soft rays, with no anal spines and 10-11 anal soft rays. It lacks a supraocular cirrus, and the infraorbital ridge is entirely serrated over the eye. There are 3-5 preopercular spines slanting towards the midline, and the suborbital ridge lacks a smooth notch under the eye. The antorbital margin has 2 antrorse spines, and the lower side of the head is unicarinate. Lateral line scales are frequently 30 or 31, with the anterior 2-6 (often 3) scales bearing spines. The iris lappet is bilobed or crenate, and the upper surface of the eye is smooth without a cirrus. The pelvic fin has a prominent dark blotch in the middle and a smaller dark blotch near the base.