This species is distinguished by the following characters: body moderately elongate, depth 2.5-2.8 in SL; posterior edge of orbit without papillae; fleshy protuberance at front of upper lip absent in male; lateral line scales 36-38; gill rakers 9-11+20-24; presence of small triangular patch of vomerine teeth; D X,15-17, with slightly elongate third dorsal spine in males, 2.2-2.5 in HL; A III,7; pectoral rays 17-19; lunate caudal fin, caudal concavity 1.9-2.7 in HL. Colour of male mainly orange-red to yellowish with brown scale margins posterodorsally; presence of broad yellow band behind eye, bordered on lower edge by pink stripe and above by moderately broad red band continuing above eye and across interorbital; reddish median fins with narrow bluish outer margin; reddish yellow pelvic fins with faint violet hue on inner part of fin; translucent to slightly yellowish pectoral fins; female yellowish red with narrow pink-edged yellow band extending from lower rear corner of eye to base of pectoral fin (Ref. 90102).