This species is distinguished by having predorsal scales; second and third dorsal spines not elongated; with interorbital and postorbital trenches; opercular scales 2; a single dichotomous branch in the fifth pelvic-fin ray; when alive has three or four rows of yellow to orange blotches along the body and a narrow red bar on the vertical limb of the preopercle (Ref. 59340); characterized further by having longitudinal scale series 21-25; predorsal scales 4-5; cheek without scales; depth of body 4.3 in SL (Ref. 90102).