This species is distinguished by the following characters: a bony interorbital 82-100% pupil diameter; usually 11 ctenoid scales in predorsal midline; second dorsal spine may reach to the base of the third dorsal fin ray (in mature males) or anterior to this point; usually five free neuromasts (sensory papillae) in row r on the top of the snout, pectoral-fin rays usually 14-15 with 1-4 branched rays in about half the individuals; an unbranched fifth pelvic-fin ray that is 47-64% the length of the fourth ray. Colour of freshly collected specimens: a red to yellow background colour, a light stripe along the mid-lateral body that continues forward over the top of the pupil ending posteriorly at a pale bar across the peduncle in front of the dark caudal blotch; a light stripe below the eye bordered dorsally by a narrow red stripe (both light stripes blue in life). In preserved specimens, the central dark stripe on the snout (blue in life) is usually made up of amorphous brown chromatophores, often with a few scattered rounded very dark chromatophores, a dark blotch made up of rounded brown chromatophores on chin just behind the symphysis, and at least some dark chromatophores on the lower lip (Ref. 109919).