This species is distinguished by the following characters: 2½ scale rows above lateral line to midbase of spinous portion of dorsal fin; origin of anal fin is beneath spinous portion of dorsal fin; upper procurrent spiniform caudal-fin rays 4, lower rays 3; a half scale anterior to upper half of first lateral-line scale; dorsal profile of head moderately convex; pectoral-fin rays 14–16 (usually 15); lateral-line scales 28–30 (usually 29); gill rakers 8–11 + 14–17; last dorsal-fin spine is longer than penultimate spine and closely applied to soft portion of fin; snout short, 4.6–5.6 in HL; body depth 2.0–2.2 in SL; head length 2.3–2.5 in SL; least depth of caudal peduncle 4.0–4.5 in HL; colour when fresh reddish to silvery ventrally, with red stripes along the body following scale rows and usually narrower than the silvery intervening stripes; juveniles mostly silvery with red stripes limited to upper back (Ref. 114923).