This species is distinguished be the following characters: D XIII,11; A II,10-11 (usually 11); pectoral rays 19-20 (usually 19); spiniform caudal rays 3; tubed lateral-line scales (17-19); gill rakers 7-8 + 20-22, total rakers 28-30; body depth 2.3-2.4 in SL. Colouration: when alive, mainly charcoal grey to dark greenish brown, whitish to yellowish anteriorly (behind pectoral fin) and ventrally; a broad black band behind head (or slightly overlapping opercle), from side of nape to just behind pectoral-fin base; cheek, opercle, and side of snout mainly white (except in yellow individuals), except black patch around upper margin of eye; iris yellow-orange; caudal fin mainly brown with darker band along dorsal and ventral edge of lobes; juvenile is bluish with prominent black band behind the head and bright yellow caudal lobes with yellow on upper lobe extending onto dorsal portion of caudal peduncle (Ref. 118302).