This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: dorsal-fin rays V,21; anal-fin rays I,17-18; pectoral-fin rays 17; lateral-line scales 49-50; three enlarged, recurved canine teeth on each side at front of lower jaw and pair of enlarged canines on each side of median symphysis of upper jaw; scales ctenoid including opercle and cheek; body depth 5.4-5.7 in SL; caudal fin truncate; pelvic fins reaching beyond anal-fin origin; colour in life pinkish with broad, white mid-lateral stripe, 6-7 diffuse; triangular brown saddles on upper body; seven, short brown bars with diffuse brown spot between each on ventral body; pair of brown spots at caudal fin base (upper darker and about 3-4 times larger than lower); tapering brown bar below eye; horizontally elongate; red-edged yellow marking on lower opercle; and prominent semicircular brown spot on pectoral-fin base (Ref. 138626)