Diagnosis: 3 lateral spots on body; supra-pectoral spot about the same size as supra-anal spot; 2 vertical bars between supra-pectoral spot and opercle; no black submarginal band in dorsal fin; males in breeding coloration with black anal fin lacking colored marginal band and white to blue colored blaze on head (Ref. 57549).

Description: dorsal snout profile straight; gape inclination of mouth about 40° to horizontal; jaws isognathous; teeth on dentary and premaxilla in 3 rows, outer row with small bicuspid teeth in juveniles and females, large unicuspid teeth in mature males; gill rakers short; 0-3 pored scales posterior to lateral line; 2-3 scale rows on cheek (Ref. 57549).

Coloration: breeding males: head dark blue with light blue blaze with green highlights to origin of dorsal fin; cheek dark green; preorbital and throat black; black opercle spot; lateral portion of body dark blue ground coloration dorsally, blue/green ventrally; breast blue/black; 7-8 black bars; gray belly; proximal 1/3 of dorsal fin black, mid 1/3 blue and distal 1/3 light blue with orange lappets; caudal fin with black rays and blue membranes; anal fin black; pectoral fin with black rays and clear membranes; pelvic fin black with white leading edge (Ref. 57549).

Females: head gray with white cheek with blue/purple highlights; throat white; lateral portion of body gray dorsally, white ventrally; 3 black spots; supra-pectoral spot below 10-12th scale not in contact with upper lateral line and about same size of supra-anal spot; supra-anal spot at 24-26th scale above and in contact with lower lateral line and covering 2-3 scales; caudal spot same diameter as supra-anal spot on caudal base; 2 vertical bars between supra-pectoral spot and dorsal-fin origin; anterior portion of scales yellow, posterior portion blue/gray; white belly; dorsal fin pale blue/gray with gray spots and yellow/orange lappets; proximal 1/3 of caudal fin dark gray, distal 2/3 light gray; anal fin clear with scattered micro-melanophores; pectoral fin clear; pelvic fin with first 3 membranes gray, white leading edge, and remainder clear (Ref. 57549).