This species is distinguished by the following characters: 27 lateral-line scales; 18-25 gill rakers; mid-dorsal region of nape is naked or with small deeply embedded scales continuous across the dorsal part of nape (more apparent in dried specimens); relatively elongate body with depth 2.3-3.2 in SL; body width 2.2-2.7 in depth; head length (HL) 2.6-3.1 in SL; snout 2.3-2.7 in HL; eye 2.6-3.7 in snout; flexible dorsal spines; caudal fin truncate to slightly rounded; pectoral fins 1.6-1.9 in HL; pelvic fins 2.1-2.5 in HL. Body colour of Initial Phase (IP): brown to orange-brown, a dark edged pale blue spot on each scale; head reddish-brown to orange-brown, with dark-edged narrow blue bands; dorsal fin brown to brownish-red with small dark-edged blue spots, a narrow blue margin and black submarginal line; anal fin brownish-red to red and 2 or 3 rows of small dark-edged blue spots, a narrow blue margin, and black submarginal line; caudal peduncle with reddish hue on upper and lower margins; caudal fin brown to reddish-brown with small dark-edged blue spots and blue margins; pectoral base with a dusky orange-red bar, edged in blue, the upper portion blackish. Colour of Terminal Phase (TP): each scale of body olive with a dark-edged blue vertical line (except on thorax, abdomen, and nape where the blue segments are shorter and variously oriented); head with irregular, narrow, dark edged, blue bands, a broad blue band across anterior interorbital space; most individuals with a broad light green bar on side centered on sixth dorsal spine, the area anterior to this and the region of the nape coloured reddish to reddish-brown; dorsal and anal fins reddish with broad margins and basal stripes of bright blue, dorsal with a median band of small dark-edged blue spots and the anal with one or two blue stripes in middle of fin; reddish caudal fin with prominent blue margins and blue stripes along rays, but with an upper and lower zone of fin largely free of blue; pectoral base with an orange or orange-brown blue-edged bar, the upper portion of which is blackish. It has been reported that during courtship, the blue band between the eyes and around the mouth, and the single light green bar on the body of the male became brighter (Ref. 94255).