This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: head is scaly except for subopercle which is naked with numerous small pores; scales on top of the head reaching forward to between the anterior nostrils and snout tip; lower margin of the eye tangent to a line from snout tip to upper pectoral-fin base; suborbital with a large retrorse spine (a small antrorse spine may also be present on third infraorbital, immediately above suborbital spine); posterior margin of the preopercle is rugose, bearing one or two rows of short blunt spines along its length; second anal-fin spine is longer and more robust than first or third anal-fin spines. Colouration: most body scales, except for breast and caudal peduncle, with greenish yellow spot (spots darker in live fish); caudal peduncle often yellowish; with a broad white bar from nape onto operculum; suborbital with obscure, rectangular, white patch; white band beneath lateral

line never present; the upper limb of opercular margin blackish, while lower limb reddish orange; upper base of pectoral fin with a small wedge-shaped dark spot; fins are yellow (Ref. 130620).