This species is characterized by the following: Dorsal rays IX,12; anal rays III,12; pectoral rays 12; lateral line interrupted, the pored scales 19-20 + 5 or 6; cheek is naked except for a curved oblique row of 6 small scales from behind to below eye; 1 or 2 small scales dorsoanteriorly on the opercle; gill rakers 19-20; body depth 2.5-2.6 in SL; dorsal profile of snout nearly vertical; first two dorsal spines slender and flexible, the first slightly longer, 2.45-2.55 in head length; space between second and third dorsal spines more than twice that between first and second spines; color when fresh, pale grey, scale edges dorsally on body grey-brown; head grey-brown, operculum suffused with orange, with vertical blue bands; a broad oblique pale blue band containing numerous small black spots

from interorbital space to above opercle; one to several black spots, edged in pale blue, on side of body above tip of pectoral fin; a dusky streak below posterior end of maxilla and lower lip; orangish patch on side of caudal peduncle, each scale with a pale blue spot; median fins bluish grey; pectoral fins orange (Ref. 58466).