Dorsal fin XIII to XV, 18 to 20 (usually XIV); membrane between spinous and segmented-ray portions notched deeper than half length of first segmented ray; membrane from posteriormost ray attaching to point ranging from between dorsal edge of caudal peduncle well in advance of caudal-fin base to dorsal edge of caudal fin just posterior to base (usually anterior to caudal-fin base); posteriormost anal-fin ray not bound by membrane to caudal peduncle; skin covering anal-fin spines and anterior segmented rays not modified in adult males; pectoral-fin rays 14 or 15 (15 only unilaterally, in only 2 of 46 specimens examined for character); dorsal procurrent caudal fin rays 6 to 8 (typically 7), ventral procurrent rays 6 to 8 (typically 7), total procurrent rays 12 to 15 (typically 14), segmented rays 13. Lacking nape cirrus. Orbital cirrus consisting of flattened central stalk with up to 7 branches on each lateral and medial margin; less than orbital diameter in females, ranging from less than to slightly greater than orbital diameter in males. Nasal cirrus short, ranging from ragged-edged flap to palmate flap with up to 16 irregular branches; lacking posterior canines; ventral margin of upper lip entire; dorsal margin of lower lip varying from entire to weakly, irregularly, and almost unnoticeably crenulate (irregularities almost entirely restricted to corners of lip). Males with well-developed, blade-like crest on head; females lack crest, but females generally at 6.8 to 8.6 cm SL with faint, ridge-like crest precursors; male crest uniformly dusky or covered with dusky spots or granular vermiculations; remainder of head either almost uniformly dusky or with fine, dusky spots on opercle. Male max. size 11.8 cm SL; female max. size, 10.3 cm SL.