This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: D X,13; total gill rakers 16; body depth 2.4-2.8 in SL; eye 4.5-4.7 in HL; interorbital 5.5-6.5 in HL; the scale rows above the lateral line rising obliquely toward dorsal profile; predorsal scales extends slightly anterior to level of preopercular margin; weakly developed preopercular notch and interopercular knob; upper surface of tongue with central patch of fine granular teeth; vomer with narrow, crescent-shaped patch of granular teeth, no medial posterior extension; slightly emarginate caudal fin; in life it is reddish to yellow on head, bluish to grey on upper side, grading to yellow-orange below lateral line; bright yellow anal and pelvic fins, presence of a black spot at base of uppermost pectoral-fin rays (Ref. 93093).