This species is characterized by the following: body relatively deep, 2.11-2.40 (mean 2.22); D XI,11 (rarely XII,10 or XI,10); scale rows between fifth dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 4.5 ; scale rows above lateral line 5.5, below 11.5 or 12.5; second anal-fin spine strong [14.7-20.7% (mean 17.8%) of SL], 1.10-1.46 (mean 1.30) in 2AS/3AS; pored lateral-line scales 43-47 (mean 45.4); first soft dorsal-fin ray slightly longer than last dorsal-fin spine. Colour of fins: pale or strong yellow to bright yellow pelvic, anal, and caudal fins, lower caudal-fin lobe strong yellow, usually with wide dense black posterior margin; black streaks usually observed from middle to lowest portions on inter-radial membranes between yellow anal-fin rays, even in preserved specimens; two black blotches (rarely three irregular blotches) on lower inter-radial membranes between dorsal-fin rays; conspicuous diffuse dark blotch at origin of lateral line (covering first and second pored lateral line scales), continuing as dense blackish shading over upper cleithrum and upper part of posterior opercle. Strong diagnostic characteristics of this species are the presence of two black blotches (rarely 3) on the inter-radial membranes between the dorsal-fin rays, and wide dense black posterior margin (Ref. 93743).