Upper lip edge generally partly crenulate; color note from description: females warm brown, paler on belly; head with a slight purplish tinge, darker on snout and lips; only a slight trace of crossbars; body with small, pale pearly spots, most numerous posteriorly; crest dark brown, thickly dotted with small pearly or bluish spots; pectorals dark brown; spinous dorsal fin dark brown with a series of large, oblique, oblong black spots, 1 on each membrane; second dorsal fin dark brown with numerous narrow, pale oblique streaks; caudal fin dark brown, appearing almost black; anal fin dark brown with darker margin; pelvic fins black. Males paler with pearly spots more distinct and more numerous anteriorly; head covered with small dusky spots; crest without white spots; large black spots only on first 2 membranes of dorsal fin. Anal soft rays rarely 18 or 21; segmented caudal rays 13-14 (typically 14) with middle 3-9 branched; lateral line pores 1-6 (Ref. 54980).