This species is distinguished by the following characters: D X,16; A III,7; pectoral-fin rays 18; lateral-line scales 43; gill rakers 9 + 25; body depth 3.05 in SL; head length 3.1 in SL; anterior end of upper lip thickened; papillae ventroposteriorly on edge of orbit; no serrae on edge of subopercle nor on interopercle; snout length 3.9 in HL; bony interorbital width 4.0 in HL; 4th-10th dorsal spines subequal, 2.8 in HL; caudal fin lunate, 2.3 in SL; body color orange-yellow, shading to pale lavender-yellow ventrally, head yellow, paler ventrally, a large elliptical orange area, bordered by magenta, dorsally on head from snout to nape, anterior end of upper lip pale lavender-pink, caudal fin yellow with a broad pale blue upper margin and red submarginal band that narrows posteriorly, remaining fins translucent yellow, the dorsal fin with a pink margin, and the anal and pelvic fins with a narrow blue margin (Ref. 86964).