This species is distinguished from its Indo-Pacific congeners by having the following characters: lateral line scales 46-49 (vs. at least 51 in all species except E. areolatus, E.

bilobatus, E. bleekeri, E. bontoides, E. chlorostigma, E. faveatus, E. howlandi, E. longispinis, E. macrospilos, E. maculatus, E. merra, E. miliaris, E. polyphekadion, E. quoyanus, E. timorensis, E. trimaculatus), round caudal fin (vs. emarginate to truncate caudal fin in E. areolatus, E. bleekeri, E. chlorostigma, E. geoffroyi, E. timorensis), no distinct spots over most of head and body (vs. numerous distinct spots - not dots - over most of head and body in E. bilobatus, E. bontoides, E. faveatus, E. howlandi, E. longispinis, E. macrospilos, E. maculatus, E. merra, E. miliaris, E. polyphekadion, E. quoyanus, E. trimaculatus) (Ref. 111063).