This species is distinguished by the following characters: D IX,11; A III,10; pectoral-fin rays 13-14; upper procurrent caudal-fin rays 6-7, lower 7; principal caudal-fin rays 8 + 7; circumpeduncular scales 18-20; body depth 3.7-4.1 in SL; head length 2.9-3.4 in SL; snout length 2.8-3.7 in HL; orbit diameter 3.6-5.4 in HL; orbit diameter 1.3-1.9 in snout length; caudal-peduncle length 2.0-3.8 in HL; pored lateral-line scales 24-28; scale rows above lateral line 3, below lateral line 9-10; total gill rakers 12-13. Colouration: head and anterior body pale chartreuse, with lower head sometimes with narrow dusky streak from corner of mouth to lower edge of opercle, sometimes extending to pectoral-fin base; median lateral black stripe is distinct only to about anterior half of body, attenuating and becoming increasingly indistinct or absent towards middle and posterior body; middle portion of body to caudal peduncle (where median lateral stripe has been attenuated) is suffused with bright tangerine orange; caudal fin black with upper and lowermost edge of caudal fin pale blue to lilac (Ref. 138889).