This species is characterized by the following: D IX,12, the first two dorsal spines flexible and shorter than longest dorsal soft rays; body depth 3.1-3.35 in SL; cheek scaleless; 2 small scales dorsally on opercle; gill rakers 17-20; juveniles and females whitish with a red stripe from above eye to back at base of dorsal fin; males with a pale-edged black spot on seventh lateral-line scale and scales below (Ref. 75958).