This species is distinguished by the following characters: possess a bony interorbital about three-quarters pupil diameter (68-85%), with a fully scaled nape, the anterior rows cycloid in adults, a second dorsal spine that usually reaches middle of the second dorsal fin; two cephalic sensory papillae in row f on the chin and in row r on the top of the snout, 2-5 (usually 4) papillae in row d? immediately behind the maxilla, usually 13 (range = 12-14) unbranched pectoral-fin rays, and an unbranched fifth pelvic-fin ray that is 34-45% the length of the fourth ray. Colour of freshly collected specimens: reddish head and anterior nape except below a line bounded by the horizontal limb of preopercle, where these are white; red opercular region and abdomen with a liberal sprinkling of large, dark brown melanophores, a pupil-diameter wide white band across peduncle anterior to the caudal spot, approximately pupil diameter dark marking on the posterior part of the peduncle and extending onto the bases of the caudal fin rays; preserved specimens with four distinct groupings of small round black melanophores situated at the 3, 4:30, 6 and 9 o’clock positions around the eye (Ref. 109919).