The new species is distinguished from all congeners reported from the Western Indian Ocean by a unique pigmentation pattern on the caudal fin comprising a smaller oblong black patch dorsally near the base of the fin and a much larger elongate oval or anvil-shaped black patch ventrally that extends posteriorly over half the length of the fin, the presence of numerous smaller black blotches forming two to three bands distally on the caudal membrane, and a unique spotting pattern on the flank, comprising six to nine black blotches present along the lateral midline over a light background and a second series of eight or nine black blotches (none forming ocelli) on the lower flank at the ventral terminus of the lateral series of vertical brown bands (Ref. 89488).