Median predorsal scales 5; horizontal scale rows on cheek below eye 2; body depth 3.2-3.55 in SL; ; head length 2.9-3.05 in SL; snout length 3.9-4.1 in HL; first dorsal soft ray of adults long and filamentous; caudal fin rounded in young, lanceolate with strongly concave upper and lower posterior margin in adults, the fin length 2.9-3.6 in SL; pelvic fin short, 1.6-1.8 in HL. Adult males in life light orange, shading to yellow ventrally, with four longitudinal lavender bands on body which link to three narrow lavender bands extending posteriorly from eye; dorsal fin yellow with a broad blue-edged red zone posteriorly in fin, the filament red. Small females with the same but narrower stripes, dark-edged blue lines dorsally on head, a large dark brown spot at base of dorsal fin below juncture of spinous and soft portions, and a small dark brown spot dorsoposteriorly on caudal peduncle.