Body red with silvery reflections on many scales, shading to silvery white on lower part of the head, thorax, and anterior abdomen, scale edge light red; 5-6 oblique scale rows on cheek; body depth 2.3-2.7 in SL; head length (HL) 2.45-2.65 in SL; snout length 3.6-4.0 in HL; interorbital width 5.0-5.4 in HL; mouth terminal to slightly inferior; maxilla extending to a vertical at front edge of pupil or slightly before or beyond to it; upper jaw length 2.85-3.2 in HL; anterior end of nasal bone rounded; moderately large, spineless nasal fossa; upper surface of nasal bone between nasal fossa and edge of premaxillary groove with a retrorse spine; median edge of nasal bone with a retrorse spine and sometimes another anterior to it; preopercular spine 1.6-2.2 in orbit diameter, 4.75-6.4 in HL; spinules on posterior margin of preopercle 31 (on a 4.6 cm SL specimen) to 33-46 (6.25-6.85 cm); 3rd-5th dorsal spines subequal, the longest, 1.85-2.25 in HL; 3rd anal spine 1.45-1.75 in HL; broadly rounded caudal fin lobes (Ref. 27370)