Males with more intense blue spots on the head and more colorful markings on fins than females; subadults lack the blue and yellow spotting but have more black spots (Ref. 1602); characterized further by having forth and fifth dorsal spines prolonged in male and may have filamentous tips; strong and sharp tipped first spine of each dorsal fin; united pelvic fins, well developed frenum present; rounded caudal fin, shorter than head length; longitudinal scale series 29-30; predorsal scales about 13; mainly ctenoid scales on body; cycloid scales on prepectoral area, breast and abdomen; preopercular margin just above angle with 1-3 small spines; depth of body 4.0-4.6 in SL (Ref. 90102).