This species is distinguished by the following characters: D V, 21; A I,17; pectoral-fin rays 15-17

(rarely 15 or 17); lateral-line scales 56-58 (modally 57); gill rakers 2-4 + 7-10 = 9-14; predorsal scales 4-6 (modally 5); ctenoid scales on cheek; canine teeth 6 in outer row at front of lower jaw; robust and conical vomer teeth in 1-2 irregular rows; no palatine teeth; opercle with 2-3 strong spines; margin of preopercle, subopercle and interopercle are strongly serrated; vertebrae - 10 abdominal and 20 caudal; pelvic fins reaching between vent and base of third anal-fin ray; 3 broad orange to reddish bars on head between suborbital and opercle, 6 irregular broad orange to reddish transverse bands across body, 2-3 rows of red spots on soft dorsal fin, anal-fin reddish infused with yellow near base, a large red blotch on anteroventral quarter of pectoral fin, pelvic fins are bright orange-red, and caudal fin with several irregular rows of dark red spots, the lower third of fin distinctively crimson-red (Ref. 116166).