This species is distinguished by the following characters: D XI,9 (a female paratype with XII,9); A III,9; pectoral rays 15; lateral line scales 17+7; median predorsal scales 5; horizontal rows of scales on cheek 2; gill rakers 13-15; body depth 2.85-3.40 in SL, width 1.95-2.15 in body depth; head length 2.75-2.90 in SL; snout length 4.1-4.4 in HL; short pelvic fin, not reaching base of the anal fin, 4.15-4.65 in SL; rounded to truncate caudal fin in females and moderately to strongly lunate in males, caudal concavity as great as 0.8 in head; large eye, orbit diameter 3.55-3.90 in HL; colour in life with body yellow shading yellow white on abdomen, 5 irregular red orange bands, yellow dorsal fin with spinous portion having dusky spots on outer part, black on the first membrane, a central lavender band becoming black toward soft rays and soft portion with a black central band abruptly translucent posteriorly, the anal fin yellow, soft portion with a broad lavender black central band becoming narrower on the spinous part, the caudal fin yellow with 7 dusky black tongue-shaped extensions on the innermost rays; colour when preserved, males pale yellow and bands mentioned above on dorsal, anal and caudal fins are dusky to black, paired fins translucent (Ref. 118208).