Distinguished by the following diagnostic characters: dorsal-fin rays VI-I,10; anal-fin rays I,10 (rarely 9); pectoral-fin rays 18 (occasionally 19); dentition sexually dimorphic, male teeth in upper jaw tridentic anteriorly, conical laterally; females lacking conical, canine-like teeth in both jaws; genital region without bilobed structures; both male and female with ctenoid scales on body, but those of male with stronger ctenii; female with extensive covering of cycloid scales on anterior part of body; sexual dichromatism well developed, males bright blue over much of body with ventral half of head red and broad reddish bar below second dorsal fin; dorsal and anal fins red with broad pale margins; female mainly semi-translucent tan with poorly defined brown stripe on lower side (Ref. 77028).