This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: D X,17; A III,8; pectoral rays 16 (left side of one specimen 17); vertebrae 10 +16; scales relatively large, two scales between lateral line and base of fifth dorsal spine; circumpeduncular scales 16 or 17; gill rakers 11 + 22-23; body very slender and compressed, with greatest body depth 3.4-3.8 in SL; caudal peduncle short, its length 2.6-3.3 in HL. Colouration: sexually dichromatic, with male coloration red dorsally, yellow laterally, silvery-pink on throat and belly while females pink, silvery-pink on operculum, throat and belly; both sexes dark red on top of head, along anterior two-thirds of dorsal fin base; both sexes with rows of irregularly-spaced metallic magenta spots laterally, and red dorsal and caudal fins with yellow highlights (Ref. 124780).