This species is distinguished by the following characters: naked belly, pectoral-fin base, and cheek; adults with spiny preorbital bone; blunt snout; 3 rows of scales above rear pored scales, first 2 rows about equal-sized; first dorsal fin relatively short; fifth body bar prominently darker than first 4 and typically wider than 4-5 interspace; first four body bars are usually indistinct, often barely distinguishable; 4-5 interspace without central dark patch or dark accessory bar; 2 broad and solid dark or dusky red bands on caudal fin (in breeding males all dark); pale band flanked with dark or red stripes from eye across upper jaw; second dorsal fin with 3 rounded dark spots on membranes near the spine bases and thin band of fine speckling on outer rim of fin; anal fin with 4 or 5 dark patches; mode of D III+XII+8 and A II, 16; mode of 15 pored lateral-line scales and 21 scales in notched midline row (Ref. 93957).