This species is distinguished from all its congeners by the following set of characters: body deep and compressed; D XII,10; the first 2 dorsal-fin spines are rudimentary (2 dorsal-fin spines on first dorsal pterygiophore); third or fourth (rarely fifth) dorsal-fin spine longest (1.0-1.4, mean 1.2, in 3DFS/4DFS, reduction of dorsal-fin spines with growth might be determined by different environments), third spine less than head length and not reaching beyond the origin of first soft dorsal-fin ray in specimens greater than 20.0 cm SL, but juveniles less than ca.10.0 cm SL with third to eightth dorsal-fin spines extremely elongated, these spines becoming abruptly shorter at 10.0-15.0 cm SL; anterior and posterior margins of upper cheek scales nearly parallel just below posterior edge of eye; orbit diameter clearly less than suborbital depth. Colouration: body uniform orangish pink with belly and chin silvery, head with snout mostly yellow or orange, sometimes yellow or orange on cheek; spinous dorsal-fin rays are yellowish or orangish pink, especially on membrane, other fins are somewhat yellowish pink or pale pink, similar to Pacific Dentex; upper jaw and around the eyes often yellowish orange (Ref. 124569).