Distinguished by the following characteristics: juveniles are lavender-grey or pale brownish, shading to white ventrally; 2 black-edged white longitudinal bands, upper band extending from above the eye to the anterior dorsal-fin rays, and the lower band from below the eye to the lower band from below the eye to the lower caudal-fin rays; black spots and streaks on dorsal and caudal fins; head and body of large adults, uniformly grey; body depth contained 2.9-3.4 times in SL; head length 2.3-2.6 times in SL; convex interorbital area, convex dorsal head profile; angular preopercle, 3-7 distinctly enlarged serrae at angle; distinctly convex upper edge of operculum; subequal anterior and posterior nostrils; maxilla reaches past vertical at rear edge of eye; 2-3 rows of teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw (Ref. 89707).