This species is distinguished by the following characters: short supramaxilla and mostly rigid maxilla with only a slight flexible lamina posteriorly; an ocellated spot on the dorsal fin, between third or fourth and eighth spines followed by two large, irregular, dark blotches that extend onto body, and a blackish streak on cheek bordering upper edge of maxilla; outermost segmented pelvic-fin ray is tightly bound to adjacent ray, with interradial membrane not incised distally or only slightly at tip (vs. interradial membrane deeply incised in all other Indo-Pacific Opistognathus (Ref. 81517).

Black spot between 3rd and 8th dorsal fin spines, fin also with 2 large blotches that extend onto body; body and dorsal fin with spots and blotches bordered with pale blue (Ref. 5468).