This species is distinguished by the following characters: D XIII,13-15 (usually XIII,14); A II,13-16 (usually II,15); pectoral fin rays 16-18 (usually 17 or 18); tubed lateral line scales 16-18 (usually 17 or 18); gill rakers 5-7 + 15-16 = 20-23 (typically 21); body depth 2.5-2.8 in proportion to SL for specimens longer than 3.0 cm SL; caudal fin is deeply forked with a relatively long filamentous upper lobe (Ref. 95102).

Description: Colour when alive, based on underwater photographs: metallic blue anteriorly and dorsally with a light yellow ventral portion; dorsal fin metallic blue, and the soft ray of pectoral fin is light blue; pectoral fin is transparent to light blue, pelvic fin light blue to yellow with a blue anterior margin; anal fin light blue to bright yellow with a blue margin and many small blue spots; caudal fin light blue to yellowish, with a few blue spots on the anterior portion. Mouth terminal, small and oblique; teeth 2 rows at least in front and outer row of larger incisiform to conical teeth. Scales finely ctenoid (Ref. 95102).