The species is distinguished by the following set of characters. D 11-13; A 8-10; lateral-line scales 56-59; scale rows above lateral line 3-5; vertebrae 56-59; anterior gill-rakers 30-38; pseudobranchial filaments 21-28; peritoneal spots 14-17; palatine teeth uniform in length and size; posterior part of preopercle is scaled; anterior nostril flap (ANF) short, round or triangular, and not reaching rear margin of posterior nostril when laid back; ANF length/ inter-nostril distance (IND) 0.33-0.75 (mean 0.54); snout is moderately pointed in lateral view; pelvic fin moderately short, its length 21.6-24.0% SL; posterior process of pelvic girdle is wide. Colouration: when fresh, it is orange or orangish-brown dorsally, white ventrally, eight doughnut-shaped dark orange blotches along body axis, some continuous with saddle-shaped blotches on dorsum; pelvic-fin rays white, fin membranes transparent, no additional markings; caudal fin with broad yellowish-orange bands on each lobe; when in alcohol, body pale, with irregular dark pigmentation above lateral line (Ref. 137548).