This species is distinguished by the following characters: belly, pectoral-fin base, and cheek naked; adults with spiny preorbital bone; snout blunt; 3 rows of scales above rear pored scales, the first 2 rows about equal-sized; relatively short first dorsal fin (all characters of E. boehlkei complex); fifth body bar is usually slightly darker than first four (not much darker than fourth) and usually narrower than 4-5 interspace; accessory interspace bar or darkened patch between the fourth and fifth body bars (yellow-ringed with dark-speckled center in life, especially ventrally); dusky red bar just behind fifth body bar; dark or dusky red bands on caudal fin, usually more than 2, often broken; usually no pale band dividing dark snout forward of eye; second dorsal fin with 3 rounded dark spots on membranes near spine bases and thin band of fine speckling on outer rim of fin; anal fin with 4-6 dark patches; modal fin rays D III+XII+8, A II, 16; mode of 14 pored lateral-line scales and 22 scales in notched midline row (Ref. 93957).