Distinguished by the following characteristics: head, body, dorsal and caudal fins yellow; 6-7 salmon-colored stripes from the head to the soft dorsal and caudal fins; blood-red blotch on the front half of anal fin; white blotch on the side of belly; pinkish purple pelvic fins; depth of body subequal to head length, depth contained 2.3-2.5 times in SL; width of body 2.3-2.4 times in body depth; head length 2.2-2.3 times in SL; convex interorbital area, convex dorsal head profile; rounded preopercle, with large, curved spine at angle, lower edge fleshy; very large middle opercle spine, extending to or beyond rear edge of opercular membrane; small posterior and anterior nostrils, subequal; well-developed supramaxilla and prominent bony knob (hidden by upper lip) on lower rear corner; short, curved, fixed canine tooth on each side of symphysis of both jaws and midside of lower jaw with 1-3 similar fixed canines (Ref. 89707).