Distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: D X,11; A III,10; total gill rakers on first arch 23-26, mode 24 (upper limb 6-9, lower 16-18); lateral-line scales 31-37, mode 33; body scales above pectoral fin with about 11-40 spinules on posterior margin, the number increasing with growth up to ca. 20 cm SL; rounded caudal fin in young and adults; colour of posterior soft portions of vertical fins hyaline reddish with black margins, width about 1/4 of pupil diameter in fresh specimens (usually distinct in preservation); 5 white or pale relatively narrow vertical bands on body, the third around 1/4-2/5 width of pupil, somewhat expanded dorsally and ventrally, and relatively vertical throughout, including dorsal and ventral extremities (Ref. 94109).