This species is distinguished by the following characters: scales above lateral line to mid-base of spinous portion of dorsal fin 3 1/2; half-scale not present anterior to first lateral-line scale; head dorsal profile nearly uniformly convex; anterior end of each nasal bone has a sharp, forwardly directed spine; with a strong spine at corner of preopercle, significantly larger than other serrations; pectoral-fin rays 17; lateral-line scales 29; gill rakers 8 + 13; the last dorsal-fin spine is shorter than penultimate spine; body depth 2.2 in SL; HL 2.4 in SL; very short snout, 6.6 in HL; least depth of caudal peduncle 4.9 in HL. Colour when fresh: silvery head and body, re dorsally with upper sides of body red with silver spots; red eye with black pupil; rose coloured vertical fins and caudal fin; translucent fins (Ref. 121787).

Description: This species differs from Ostichthys acanthorhinus by havina a shorter snout, length 6.6 in HL (vs. 5.15?6.0 in HL); a longer caudal peduncle, length 2.8 in HL (vs. 3.45?3.6 in HL); predorsal scales 8 (vs. 5-6); gill rakers 8 + 13, total 21 (vs. 10-12 + 16-18, total 26?30); procurrent spiniform caudal-fin rays upper 6 and lower 5 (vs. upper 4 and lower 3) (Ref. 121787).