This species is characterized by the following: D X,14; A III,6; pectoral rays14 (rarely 15), the lower 6 unbranched and thickened; gill rakers 4-5 + 13-14; lateral-line scales 49-52; scales above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 4; serrae on margin of preopercle 14-24 (increasing, in general, with growth); caudal fin slightly emarginate; body red dorsally, white ventrally, with five slightly oblique, reddish brown bars below dorsal fin; a large oblong black spot anteriorly on caudal peduncle; a dark brown spot on opercle; ventral half of body with brownish red blotches of eye to pupil size (Ref. 80044).