Description: Mouth large; maxillary extending beyond the eye; small caniniform teeth in bands on jaws (Ref. 40476, 52193). Dorsal fin with 9-10 spines and 12-13 soft rays; dorsal fin membrane deeply cleft between spinous and soft-rayed sections; anal fin with 3 spines and 9-11 soft rays; pelvic fins not joined by a membrane; caudal fin emarginate or rounded; caudal fin with 17 rays (Ref. 2196, 40476, 52193). Lateral line complete, 58-69 scales, 6-8 between lateral line and first dorsal spine, no scales on base of dorsal or anal fins (Ref. 52193).

Colouration: Green to olive dorsally, light green on flanks, milk-white to yellow ventrally, with a black band running from the operculum to the base of the caudal fin; a connected series of short, dark olive green vertical bars forms an irregular band along body, 2 or 3 broad olive stripes radiate behind eye (Ref. 40476, 52193).