Diagnosis: 9 or fewer rakers on lower limb of first arch; pearly spots on cheek and opercle; bluish pearly oblique band across dorsal fin from base of first spine to posterior border of soft rays; outer row jaw teeth slender and rather pointed; 2 scale rows on cheek (rarely 3); dorsal fin with 13-15 spines and 10-13 soft rays (total of 25-27 fin rays) (Ref. 81260).

Description: head length 33.6-37.9% SL; lower pharyngeal jaw with pointed, recurved anterior teeth and straight tricuspid posterior teeth; ventral keel much shorter than dentigerous plate; 3-6 rows of teeth on oral jaws, outer row teeth biscupid (Ref. 81260).

Coloration: body ground color yellow, belly whitish, each scale with a black basal spot; 7-9 vertical bars on upper flanks and caudal peduncle, lending a darker appearance to the dorsum; anteriorly, bars expanded at level of lower lateral line, creating a line of 5-6 black spots at mid-body; dorsum of head, snout and lips blackish; opercle and cheek yellowish; upper lip with bluish hue; many pearly spots or iridophores on the cheek; dorsal fin with fine pearly blue band from base of first spine to extremity of soft dorsal fin; band is only on membrane between rays; fin above blue band is greyish to transparent; the part below is bluish black with small pearly blue spots; caudal fin bluish black with pearly blue lines that split into small lines or spots distally; anal fin bluish black with some pearly blue lines only on the distal part of upper lobe; pelvics with black leading edge, rest of fin grey; pectoral fins transparent (Ref. 81260).