Diagnosis: Predorsal scales and a bony interorbital about pupil diameter in width. Second dorsal spine elongated. Fifth pelvic fin ray branched dichotomously once and 50-60% of the fourth. Scales on cheek absent; one or two scales on the upper opercle; usually 4-5 rows of scales anterior to the pelvic fin base. A large spot over the hypural region of the caudal peduncle; a dark area along the side of the body caused by peritoneal pigmentation. In all specimens, but that from Palau and New Caledonia, there is a thin, dark stripe from the upper lip to the mid region of the interorbital when preserved (white in life), a broad rounded ridge on the snout and anterior interorbital region, and a nasal sac with a tubular anterior opening and a pore-like posterior opening with a raised rim (Ref. 55345); characterized further by having longitudinal scale series 23-24; predorsal scales 5-7; depth of body 4.3-4.6 in SL (Ref. 90102).