Diagnosis: 13-18 gill rakers on first gill arch; no large spots on flanks; 4-6 bands or two rows of dark blotches and short horizontal lines usually visible when stressed; adults of 40 mm SL or larger gracile (body depth 28.3-35.1%, mean 31.7% of standard length) (Ref. 81260).

Description: elongate, gracile (body depth 28.3-35.1%, mean 31.7% SL); snout relatively short (24.2-39.3%, mean 30.9% HL); lachrymal depth (17.3-24.8%, mean 21.5% HL); predorsal profile smoothly rounded to dorsal fin origin; caudal peduncle usually deeper than long although can be longer than deep; 1st gill arch with 8-10 (median 9) tuberculate hypobranchial and ceratobranchial rakers, 5-8 (median 6) lanceolate epibranchial rakers; some dorsal and anal fin rays elongated; caudal rounded in both sexes; 2-2.5 scale rows between 8th pored scale of upper lateral line and dorsal fin base (Ref. 81260).

Coloration: body brown, paler ventrally (Ref. 81260). Flank scales in males darkly marginated, less so in females (Ref. 52307, 81260). Cheek, opercle and often anterior flanks with bluish flush; soft dorsal, anal and caudal fin membrane in males with numerous small reddish maculae that are rarely visible in females (Ref. 81260). Most of dorsal fin (Ref. 52307, 81260) and often also upper lobe of caudal fin (Ref. 81260) in females with a bluish to yellowish silvery/iridescent colouration (Ref. 52307, 81260). Dorsal fin and upper part of caudal with red margin in both sexes; often with large, irregularly distributed blotches over flanks and caudal peduncle, sometimes 2 rows of interrupted horizontal black stripes on body (Ref. 81260).