This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: four dark bands on flank, one to five black spots (usually than pupil) in postorbital and suborbital areas, and one to eleven black spots (smaller than pupil) on opercle; black spots on body large (always greater than pupil), few to numerous (9-113), scattered on back and upper part of flank, and usually whole flank in most specimens more than about 180 mm SL, number increasing with increasing size; red spots few (6-27), ocellated, organized in one or two irregular longitudinal rows on median part of the flank, their number decreasing with increasing size, absence of red spots in most specimens larger than about 180 mm SL, if present, red spots almost covered black dots; red and black surrounded with a very large (greater than pupil) white ring; 8-10 parr marks along lateral line; maxilla long, length 11-12% SL in males and 8-10% in females; lateral line with 108-117 scales; 20-24 scale rows between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line; 19-22 scale rows between anal-fin origin and lateral line; 13-15 scale rows between origin of the adipose fin and lateral line; and 16-19 gill rakers on outer side of first gill arch (Ref. 138835).