Diagnosis: Dorsal fin XII-XIV, 19-22, notched between spinous and segmented-ray portions; anal fin II, 18-22; pectoral rays 13-15 (usually 14); pelvic fin I, 3; caudal fin, procurrent rays 10-14, segmented rays 11-13. Vertebrae 11-12 + 26-29. Orbital cirrus simple filamentous; nasal cirri short and palmate with 2-6 branches; nape without cirri. Lateral line, continuous anterodorsally with simple pores below dorsal spines from 6-7th to 9-10th, disconnected bi-pored series posteroventrally ending below 9th dorsal spine to 1st segmented ray. Mandibular pores 5-7 Lips margin entire. Occipital crest low (up to 2.6 mm) in males, most females only have faint indication of ridge-like crest precursor except greatest specimens which may have a developed ridge up to 0.6 mm (Ref. 559, 9962). Body depth at anal-fin origin 6.8-7.3 in SL. Male body with vertical bars olive brown separated by paler interspaces, and also with dark thin horizontal stripes; also with spots near the tail; preopercular spot dark; dorsal fin spots brown, forming bands. Female with vertical dark H-shaped bars; dorsal fin spotted, caudal fin with 4-5 dark bars (Ref. 48636, 90102). Exhibits geographical color pattern variation (Ref. 9962).