This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: elongated dorsal fin in adult males; lacking hooks on fins of mature male specimens; dark caudal-peduncle blotch absent; 23-27 branched anal-fin rays; 6-7 teeth in the inner series of the premaxilla; 6-7 longitudinal scale rows between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line; 14 circumpeduncular scales; the inner row of premaxillary teeth tetra- or pentacuspid; red color at the dorsal portion of the iris not reaching the margin of the pupil present; red to orange caudal-peduncle blotch present; dark pigmentation on dorsal-fin interradial membrane present; chevron-shaped bars on the flank absent; six teeth in the inner series of the premaxilla; chalky-white pigmentation at the tip of the first three to six dorsal- and anal-fin rays absent; single, vertically elongated dark humeral blotch with diffuse margins (Ref. 133120).