This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: predorsal midline with 7-8 scales; fifth pelvic-fin ray is unbranched and 40–42% length of fourth ray; cheek and opercle are scaleless; all pectoral-fin rays unbranched; D VI + I,7; no elongate spines in dorsal fin; bony interorbital width 81–84% of pupil diameter. Colouration: body bright yellow throughout and without bars in life; iris golden-yellow with melanophores except for the golden ring around pupil and inverted golden triangle extending from ventral margin of pupil; fins are translucent with yellow-green longitudinal band in central third of dorsal fins; a thin black midlateral line from above pectoral-fin base to the caudal-fin base, visible in life and in preservative (Ref. 138039).