This species can be distinguished by the following set of characters: D1 VII, no elongate spine; D2 I, 9; A I, 8; pectoral fin extending to 3rd element of D2 fin; pelvic fins well separated, 5th ray one-quarter length of 5th ray, rays 1-4 branched several times with spatulate, fleshy tips; presence of ctenoid scales on the side of the body, from caudal peduncle to pectoral-fin base, ctennii reduced or lacking anteriorly; 6-7 very enlarged ctenoid scales on caudal peduncle; 2 modified basicaudal scales with enlarged ctenii on dorsal and ventral margins of caudal-fin base; papillae rows 5s and 5i connected as a continuous transverse row; interorbital papillae row pc’ with two papillae; cephalic lateralis pores on head or preopercle absent; anterior nostril with dorsal bilobed flap, posterior with simple triangular flap; single anal-fin pterygiophore inserted anterior to haemal arch; pectoral, spinous dorsal and caudal fins with bright white pigment adjacent to black fin margins, body white with 7 prominent yellow stripes situated under eye, on cheek, behind opercular margin, below middle of dorsal fin, below origin of second dorsal fin, below middle of second dorsal fin, and on posterior margin of caudal peduncle (Ref. 113825).