This species is distinguished by the following characters: scales above lateral line to midbase of spinous portion of dorsal fin 2½; D XII, soft rays modally 14, the last two dorsal-fin spines about equal in length or last slightly shorter; space between last dorsal-fin spine and first dorsal-fin ray about half as broad as space between last two dorsal-fin spines; upper procurrent spiniform caudal-fin rays 4, lower rays 3; origin of anal fin beneath spinous portion of dorsal fin; lateral-line scales 28-30 (usually 29); dorsal profile of head straight; pectoral-fin rays 14-16 (modally 15); gill rakers 7-9 + 13-15; depth of body 2.1-2.35 in SL; head relatively short, 2.45-2.6 in SL; snout long, 3.7-4.7 in HL; depth of caudal peduncle 3.8-4.7 in HL; colour when fresh red with a faint whitish longitudinal banding following scale rows (Ref. 114923).