This species is distinguished by the following characters: cephalic sensory-canal pore system without the IT pore only (pattern 2); branched pectoral-fin rays; fimbriate urogenital papilla; dorsal/anal-fin formula 9/8; fifth pelvic-fin ray rudimentary or absent; pectoral-fin base no dark spots; subcutaneous bars on body 5 between anal-fin origin and caudal fin; a large rectangular dark spot on mid and upper caudal peduncle (Ref. 107299).

Description: semi-translucent green body with seven vertically elongate, dusky red blotches along upper side, last overlaying vertically elongate black spot on posterior caudal peduncle; side of body with similar blotches along lower side of body; head with dusky orange spots and short bands; first and second dorsal spines of male may be filamentous; eleventh to fifteenth pectoral rays usually branched; longitudinal scale series 23-24; ctenoid scales, absent on head, nape, breast and base of pectoral fin; separated pelvic fins, thin membrane joining bases; fifth pelvic rays absent or rudimentary; fourth pelvic ray with average of 7.6 branches; depth of body 4.4-5.0 in SL (Ref. 90102).