This species is distinguished by the following characters: D V,21 with fifth dorsal-fin spine longest;; A I,17; pectoral-fin rays 19-20 (rarely 20); lateral-line scales 55-57 (modally 56); gill rakers 4-6 + 8-11 = 13-16 (modally 15); ctenoid predorsal scales 6-7; ctenoid scales on cheek (except few cycloid scales ventrally on suborbital), in about 14 or 15 irregular horizontal rows; canine teeth 8-10 in outer row at front of lower jaw; vomer with 2-3 rows of robust conical teeth; palatines no teeth; angle of subopercle with a single (rarely 2) broad spine; angle of preopercle with 4-5 (usually 4) large widely-separated spines; vertebrae, abdominal 10 and caudal 19; pelvic-fin tip reaching midway between vent and base of anal-fin spine to base of first anal-fin ray. Colouration: three broad diffuse reddish-brown vertical bars on the upper body, between anterior and posterior parts of soft dorsal fin, the first bar below soft dorsal-fin rays 2-3, second below rays 8-9, and the third below rays 16-17, each bar with faint dusky smudge-like blotch at lower end; soft dorsal fin with two large dusky blotches, first in membrane between soft dorsal-fin rays 6-9, the second between rays 14-17; caudal-fin base with a broad pale reddish brown bar, upper portion of bar with faint dusky blotch (Ref. 117414).