Opercle with a single sharp spine at level of ventral edge of pupil (when viewed from side); margin of interopercle smooth except for 5 (7 in 96.9-mm paratype, 4 in 2 other paratypes) tiny, close-set serrae on a small bony prominence at upper edge; preopercle broadly rounded, its free edge smooth except for slight indentation at pore sites, extending from level of ventral edge of orbit to slightly anterior to a vertical atposterior edge of orbit.