This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: body elongate with greatest body depth 22.4-27.1% SL; D IX,11; A III,12; pectoral-fin rays 13-14 (usually 13); tubed lateral-line scales 27-29 (usually 28). Colouration: interspinous membrane between anterior two to three spines of dorsal fin have an irregular black spot; males are olive green dorsally, fading to whitish green ventrally, colors usually entirely obscured by black coloration; the nape and upper orbit with pinkish red stripe, continuing along base of dorsal fin to upper edge of caudal peduncle; abdominal region behind pectoral and pelvic fins have a narrow lilac to orangey pink bar, about width of orbit, from dorsal-fin origin to pelvic fin; females are distinctly bicolored, dorsal half orange-brown suffused with black (Ref. 123182).