This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: 10-12 (modally 11) third dorsal-fin rays; 22-25 (24) pored lateral-line scales; 36-40 (38) scale rows in longitudinal series; six suborbital sensory pores; mandibular pore formula usually 4 + 1 +

4; orbital tentacle extremely short, unbranched, its length less than half nasal tentacle length; body bright orange in nuptial males; lips, cheek and pectoral-fin base black in nuptial males; blue stripe extending from lower margin of orbit through opercle, interrupted by pre-opercular margin in nuptial males; pectoral fin reddish with black triangular pigmentation basally in nuptial males; second dorsal fin plain white with reddish spines in both sexes; body yellow with distinct brownish vertical bands in pale males and females; and absence of reddish blotches between each band on lateral body surface in pale males and females (Ref. 138119)