Body slightly elongated for genus, depth 3.2 in SL, and compressed, width 1.55 in body depth; dorsal profile of head moderately convex, forming an angle of about 20° to horizontal; head length 2.3 in SL; snout length 4.4 in HL; orbit diameter 3.5 in HL; bony interorbital width very narrow, 13.4 in HL; least depth of caudal peduncle 3.75 in HL; caudal peduncle length 2.0 in HL (Ref. 86539).

Diagnosis: Dorsal fin X, 14; pectoral fin 15; lateral-line complete, scales 30; snout naked; maxilla scaly; body depth 3.2 in SL; no antrorse spine on ventral margin of preopercle, posterior margin smooth; margins of opercle, interopercle, and subopercle smooth; canine teeth in jaws; 4th and 5th dorsal spines longest; head and body deep-pink when fresh, with large yellow blotches; yellow bands on head, and mainly yellow fins (Ref. 86539).