This small species of Aetomylaeus (reaching to about 72.0 cm DW) is distinguished by the following set of characters: dorsal surface is greyish brown with a series of usually 8 (sometimes 7) transverse pale bluish bands (which are sometimes faint), no dark spots or blotches; ventral surface is whitish, pectoral fins is dusky distally; tail is rather long (1.4-1.8 times DW); without stinging spine; short and narrow head; fleshy rostral lobe, relatively broad, short, with a rounded apex; teeth usually in 7 rows in each jaw, with a broad median row flanked by 3 smaller rows on each side; dorsal-fin origin level with pelvic-fin insertions; radials of pectoral-fin 84-88 (excluding concealed propterygial radials anterior of eyes); total vertebral centra (including synarcual) 83-93; males have 16-19 pelvic radials (excluding clasper); females have 20 or 21 pelvic radials (Ref. 103981).