This species is distinguished by the following characters: bony interorbital 80-100% pupil diameter; 11 scales in predorsal midline with the anterior few rows often cycloid in adults; the second dorsal spine reaches to between the middle and the end of the second dorsal fin or just beyond this point; usually four free neuromasts (sensory papillae) in row f on the chin and in row r on the top of the snout; usually 14 unbranched pectoral-fin rays; an unbranched fifth pelvic-fin ray that is 47-63% the length of the fourth ray; colour of freshly collected specimens red to yellow background colour with a light stripe along the mid-lateral body that continues forward over the top of the pupil, with a light stripe below the eye bordered dorsally by a narrow red stripe (both light stripes apparently blue in life), a broad diffuse internal dark stripe over the abdominal cavity which narrows and continues posteriorly on and just below the vertebral column, ending at the pale bar in front of the dark caudal blotch (Ref. 109919).