This species can be distinguished from all other latrids and cheilodactylids (and most percoids) by having anal fin soft rays 26-30; vertebrae 16+21 = 37; a striped body colour pattern comprising three dark bands running longitudinally on the upper body and onto the opercular series and head, with a broader faint band on the flank and a narrow dorsal median band running along the nape and head in front of the dorsal fin (Ref. 76767).