Description: moderately deep-bodied to deep-bodied; head relatively large with a large mouth; frontal profile straight to slightly concave; caudal fin rounded to subtruncate; sexual dimorphism well-developed (somewhat more so than in most congeners)(Ref. 52307).

Coloration: Males: body grayish-blue to grayish-brown, with 2 dark bars between upper lips and eyes and a dark bar running from neck through eye to throat; additionally, a dark horizontal band runs from posterior edge of eye to caudal peduncle, this band sometimes broken and forming dark dots or shod stripes; short black bars may also be visible on opercle; rows of dark maculae in unpaired fins; anal fin with several large yellow egg spots (Ref. 52307). Females: body grayish-brown with black bars and stripes; no additional coloration present; depending on behavioral situation, both sexes may have 8-9 vertical bars on body (Ref. 52307).