Diagnosed from its congeners by having the following characters: conspicuous black midlateral stripe and conspicuous black line along lateral line in preserved individuals; in life, broad gold-orange stripe; lateral line yellow, bordered on each side by a narrow black line; 44-57 + 2-3 scales along lateral line (usually 50-57 + 2-3); 4½-5 scale rows between lateral line and pelvic fin origin; anal fin usually with 9½ branched rays; snout tip rounded or blunt, snout projecting beyond tip of upper lip; and eye diameter 4.0-4.6 times in HL (Ref. 59043). Caudal fin with 17 to 21 rays (Ref. 40476).