This species is distinguished by the following characters: belly, pectoral-fin base and cheek naked; spiny preorbital bone in adults; snout blunt; 3 rows of scales above rear pored scales, the first 2 rows about equal-sized; relatively short first dorsal fin (all characters of E. boehlkei complex); red-barred or all-red caudal fin with no duskiness, dark bars, or black shading (or any concentrations of melanophores visible under microscopy); when alive, white-black-red-white-red color bands extend from caudal peduncle rearward (in breeding males caudal fin can be all red); fifth body bar darker than preceding bars and usually narrower than preceding pale interspace; second dorsal-fin membranes with broad band of fine speckling covering most of fin membranes (more than outer half) and no distinct rounded dark spots near spine bases; D III+XII+8-9; A II,16-17; mode of 14 pored lateral-line scales and 22 scales in notched midline row (Ref. 93957)