This species is distinguished by the following characters: D X,16; A III,7; pectoral rays 19-21; lateral line scales 63-54; gill rakers 8+18-19; moderately elongated body with depth 3.86-4.6 in SL; head length 3.41-3.54 in SL; snout 3.86-4.0 in HL; forked caudal fin with filamentous rays, caudal concavity 8.36-8.5 in SL; pectoral fins 3.86-4.38 in SL; pelvic fins 5.67-6.54 in SL. Colour when alive: head excluding operculum is predominately yellow (many scales with yellow margins and pink centers), yellow extending posteriorly on upper half of body from a line starting approximately from the tip of the opercular flap and top of pectoral fins to the eighth dorsal ray, then fading to bright pink posteriorly; from operculum to lower half of body is salmon pink; pale pectoral and pelvic fins, dorsal fins yellow with pink bases at the rear dorsal rays anal fin rays yellow with pale membranes; upper and lower base of caudal fin pink, extending posteriorly to approximately halfway to the tips; the center of base of caudal fin is white, then fading to pale; posterior half of caudal fin is yellow, lower base of caudal peduncle with yellow band (Ref. 116681).