Diagnosis: Dorsal fin III + XIII+ 9-10, second fin same height of first; anal fin I + 18; pectoral rays 16 (1+8+7); pelvic fin I, 2, spine short and hidden, segmented rays simple, partially united by membrane. Vertebrae 10 + 24-25. LL total lateral scales 36-38, pored series 33-37 (21) scales; nape, belly, and anal-fin base scaleless, caudal fin base with only 1 row of scales. Mandibular pores 5-7+3-5+5-7. Orbital cirrus flat and palmate. Head length 3.5 in SL; eye 2.8; maxilla 2.3 in HL. Male head dark brown on top, reddish above eye, black and blue below, with narrow stripe from maxilla to preopercle; body brownish grey with 3 pale saddles; belly pink. Female head white with red and brown spots below, shading darker and with brown blotches above, with brown stripe from upper lip to corner of eye; body white with brown oblique semi-bars and blotches on dorsal half of side (Ref. 75031). Males distinctly colored during courtship, but look drab at other times (Ref. 48636).