This species is distinguished by the following characters: D XIII,13-15 (usually 14); A II,13-15 (usually 14); pectoral rays 16-18 (rarely 16); tubed lateral-line scales 16-19 (usually 17-18); total gill rakers on first arch 21-24 (usually 22-23); body depth 1.9-2.2 (mean 2.1) in SL; preorbital

usually with patch of scales, occasionally naked or with just a few isolated scales; suborbital

with single row of scales, occasionally restricted to posterior part, continuing around posterior

margin of the eye. Colouration: in life, usually charcoal to greyish with broad black scale margins on side of body, forming a network, sometimes a slight to strong yellow hue on caudal peduncle and lower sides; dorsal and anal fins are charcoal or blackish with posterior margin broadly orange (sometimes greatly reduced on anal fin); caudal fin is orange; pectoral fins with a black spot covering base, invading axil of fin; body side of pectoral-fin axil is distinctly orange; occasionally overall blackish to dark brown, including median fins except sometimes slightly orange on posteriormost portion of caudal fin; juveniles (< about 3.0 cm SL) mainly bluish grey with caudal fin, caudal peduncle, and adjacent portions of dorsal and anal fins bright yellow; Rowley Shoals, Western Australia population have very dark overall with orange portions of dorsal and caudal fins replaced with bright yellow and usually with entirely black anal fin (Ref. 131255).