This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: absence of orbital cirrus; trunk with irregular dark blotches on pale background; pectoral-fin base with relatively straight margins defining pale gap that separates two dark blotches; cheek with distinct dark and pale markings, the anterior part of cheek with prominent dark blotch, anteroventral and posterior margins of blotch well defined by pale regions; posterior pale area on cheek bordered posteriorly by thin, dark, anteroventral-to-posterodorsal streak of pigment along distal edge of preopercle (Ref. 86414).