This species is distinguished by the following characters: D IX,11; A III,10-11; pectoral-fin rays 13; upper procurrent caudal-fin rays 5-6; lower procurrent caudal-fin rays 5-7; principal caudal-fin rays 7-8 + 7; circumpeduncular scales 24 (22-24); body depth 3.8-4.5 in SL; head length 2.6-3.0 in SL; snout length 2.9-3.5 in HL; orbit diameter 4.0-5.6 in HL; orbit diameter 1.3-1.8 in snout length; caudal-peduncle length 4.8-6.2 in HL; pored lateral-line scales 33-36; scale rows above lateral line 4, below lateral line 13-14; total gill rakers 11-13 (Ref. 138889).

Colouration: Terminal phase with dorsal half of head and ground colouration of body mustard yellow to brown; lower portion of head silvery grey, fading to pale grey on isthmus and breast; snout with a horizontal orange brown stripe, from lateral side of upper lip to anterior edge of orbit, its width is subequal to that of pupil; stripe continuing horizontally through orbit, its width expanding slightly towards free upper edge of opercle; a stripe continuing past opercle and blending with ground colouration of body; snout with a second, cream to silvery white stripe, from the dorsal aspect of upper lip, curving slightly and continuing through dorsal aspect or orbit, past free upper edge of opercle and through to upper edge of caudal fin; dorsal fin is dusky mustard yellow, dusky hyaline distally; anal fin is similar to dorsal fin; caudal fin is dusky yellow, becoming increasingly fuliginous distally; caudal fin with a narrow, bright white, crescentic margin; upper portion of crescentic margin continuing from terminal end of cream to silvery white body stripe; the upper and lower lobes of caudal fin beyond margin translucent; pelvic fins are white to translucent grey; pectoral fins hyaline, The Initial Phase and juveniles in life with similar colour except ground colouration is dusky grey to grey-brown (Ref. 138889).