This species is distinguished by the following characters: body very deep, greatest depth 2.1-2.4 in SL; lips greatly thickened in adults; preopercular notch and knob moderately developed; vomerine tooth patch crescentic, without a medial posterior extension; tongue smooth, no teeth; gill rakers of first gill arch 6 + 11-12 =17-18; caudal fin truncate or slightly emarginate. Colour generally brown with a reddish tinge; each scale on side with a pale

brown border and 2-3 small bluish white spots in central portion; head with numerous undulating blue lines; lips tan; fins largely yellowish to dusky grey-brown; juveniles with a series of 3-8 brown bars on sides and a chalky white spot, with a broad blackish margin, present below anterior soft dorsal-fin rays at level of lateral line, preceded by similar-sized black spot on middle of side (Ref. 9821, 90102).

Description: Dorsal profile of head steeply sloped, preorbital bone broad, about twice the eye diameter; scale rows on back rising obliquely above lateral line (Ref. 9821).