This species is distinguished by the following characters: lateral profile of body with straight taper to slender caudal peduncle; distinct postorbital notch above and behind each eye but not extending across top of head as occipital groove; rostral process with a broad medial notch edged with small spines becoming progressively longer to corner on each side when viewed from above; pored lateral line scales 61-62; scales below lateral line about 15 or 16; D1 IX, D2 16; A 15-17; pectoral fins reaching to about fourth anal fin ray. Colouration: upper two-thirds of caudal fin broadly grey distally, red below; inner surface of pectoral fin mostly black with red margin basally, ventrally and along narrow outer edge (Ref. 118062).