This species is distinguished by the following characters: a bright white ventral surface, without color markings on lower fourth of body; a row of 10 reddish blotches present at vertical through lower half of pectoral-fin base, the lower part of each blotch with a solid black bar ventrally. Further distinguished from its congeners by having the following characters: D V,21; A I,17; pectoral-fin rays 17-18 (mainly 17); front of lower jaw with 3 pairs of enlarged canines; pored lateral line scales 55-59 (mainly 58); total gill rakers 16-19; and a different coloration (having 3 pairs of dark broad bands on upper lip; curved black band on front of underside of chin; medium-sized orange-red irregular spots on entire dorsal surface of head; small irregular spots densely covering nape and dorsal surface of body; row of faint red blotches, on paler background, along body axis; caudal fin with two black longitudinally elongate bars on anterior half, black spots on upper and lower thirds, central third of posterior) (Ref. 95986).