Diagnosis: body depth 34.5-35.2% of standard length; interorbital space 24.4-27.8% of head length; 15 or 16 dorsal-fin spines; 23 lateral-line scales (Ref. 53405).

Description: body elongated; snout pointed; frontal profile straight to slightly rounded; males with upper and lower portions of caudal fin with elongated rays, giving it a bifurcated appearance, absent or very poorly developed in females; rays in caudal, anal and pelvic fins also more elongated in males than in females; pelvic fin of female normally slightly rounded (Ref. 52307). Scales cycloid; outer and inner jaw teeth unicuspid, pharyngeal jaw teeth bicuspid; no micro-gillrakers (Ref. 53405).

Coloration: in live: males: back greyish-brown, sides golden-beige, underside bright yellow; rather indistinct band running from snout to anterior part of eye and continuing from postopercle to caudal peduncle, this band being particularly apparent in frightened specimens, which furthermore have a second narrow band of same colour extending from postoccipital region to base of soft part of dorsal fin; opercular area golden-yellow with distinct yellow-edged spot at hind margin; scales on sides of body and pectoral region edged with violet-red; dorsal fin light orange to canary yellow, with dark red fringe and dark orange submarginal band and covered with reddish-violet spots; upper margin of caudal fin dark red, with broad, orange submarginal band which extends unto upper caudal filament; lower caudal-fin margin blackish with white submarginal band extending unto lower caudal filament; central area of caudal fin pale orange or canary yellow, covered with reddish-violet spots; anal fin pale orange anteriorly, pale violet with reddish-violet spots posteriorly; pelvic fins pale orange; pectorals hyaline (Ref. 53405). Females: back brown, sides beige, opercular and pectoral regions golden yellow; brown mid-lateral band, darker than in males, extending from snout to anterior part of eye and from posterior margin of gill cover to caudal-fin base; belly with bright red area; dark, yellow-edged spot on upper part of opercle; dorsal fin with bright red fringe and narrow, yellow submarginal band; spinous part of dorsal fin copper-red, soft part hyaline; upper margin of caudal fin bright red with broad, copper-red submarginal band extending unto 1/4 of fin (in large individuals), rest of caudal fin yellow-orange; anal and pelvic fins yellow, with bluish-black fringe; pectorals hyaline (Ref. 53405).