This species is distinguished from its congeners in the Birds Head region by the following characters: D IV-V+I, 14-15; A I, 20-23; 34-36 lateral scales; 10-11 transverse scales; 15-18 anterior scales; 12-17 cheek scales; 13-15 gillrakers; head length, 24.7-26.1% of SL; moderately short snout length, 8.1-8.9% of SL; interorbital width, 8.2-8.7% of SL; eye diameter, 7.1-8.0% of SL; prepelvic length, 36.7-39.0% of SL; short predorsal length, 47.7-49.5% of SL; short caudal peduncle length, 12.9-14.3; moderately slender caudal peduncle depth, 10.1-11.5% of SL; moderately short pelvic fin length, 15.5-19.3% of SL; long dorsal fin base length, 38.5-42.1% of SL; long 2nd dorsal fin base length, 24.7-28.4% of SL; intermediate anal fin base length 39.5-43.1, with a tall anal fin height 14.4-15.7% of SL; dorsal origin behind anal origin, between 2nd to 3rd anal soft ray. Colouration: absence of stripes on the margin of the anal and dorsal fins; a continuous blue midlateral stripe, covering 2-3 scales wide from pectoral to middle sections and 3-4 scales rows on caudal section (Ref. 103156).