This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: D2 modally I,8; A I,7; pectoral fin rays modally 15; longitudinal scale series 27-28 (modally 28); perdorsal scales usually 14-15; scales between the first dorsal fin origin to upper pectoral fin base modally 8; vertebrae 27; males with rear edge of mouth merely extending to vertical of anterior margin of pupil. Colouration: male with lateral body with 7-8 longitudinal rows of bright orange to orange red spots about 1/2 to 1/3 of pupil diameter; female with orange brown spots less than 1/3 of pupil diameter; male with cheek and opercle with moderately large 32-36 orange spots while the female with small brown spots 12-16; larger cheek spot about 1/5 of pupil diameter; male with branchostegal membrane with 20-24 small reddish orange spots on either side, but spotless in female; with a large, middle black spot in front of third spine of first dorsal fin, its height 1/2 of second spine; male with basal region of first dorsal fin with 7-8 orange or brownish orange spots, and the second dorsal fin with 2-3 longitudinal rows of orange spots; male with pectoral fin with two rows usually 3+4 (totally 7-8 spots) of orange to reddish orange spots (Ref. 133058).