This species can be distinguished by the following set of characters: D1 VII, without notably elongate spines; D2 I,9; A I,7-8; pectoral fin with 17 rays, 5th and 6th rays from ventral very elongate, extending well beyond other rays of fin, giving pectoral fin an asymmetrical appearance; pelvic fins I, 5, well separated with 5th pelvic-fin ray ca. 1/3-1/5 length of 4th, all pelvic-fin rays unbranched and some may have flattened fleshy tips; body and head entirely naked except for 2 modified ctenoid scales with enlarged ctenii present on each side of caudal-fin base; interorbital papillae row pb’ and pc’ present; no cephalic lateralis pores on head or preopercle present; single anal-fin pterygiophore inserted anterior to haemal arch; D1 fin with scattered yellow spots in life, some with small dark centers; dorsal surface of body with prominent round yellow circles of varying sizes; side of head with two distinct narrow yellow vertical stripes, one through eye and one through posterior margin of preopercle (Ref. 113825).