This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: D VI, I,10; A I,9-10; naked head and majority of body, with some squamation on caudal peduncle; body slightly laterally compressed (body depth at pelvic-fin origin 40.6-45.3% SL), typically dorsal ventrally symmetrical, rounded head; small mouth with pronounced recurved lips; presence of groove between isthmus and interopercle; relatively deep caudal peduncle (15.5-18.6% SL); long caudal fin (22.1-29.3% of SL); absence of post symphysial teeth, triangular dentary with various sizes of jaw dentition; elongate cheek papillae length exceeding width; blue-green base colouration and red markings on the face and body of adults; facial markings as vertical bars on cheek, small spots on dorsal surface of head and unbroken horizontal lines along the length of the body beginning post pectoral fin (Ref. 133118).