Color in life red or red-brown, white on ventral parts; females with 5 white stripes or horizontal rows of white spots on head and sides; males with black pelvic fins and blue caudal fin. Lateral line interrupted, dorsoanterior series of pores scales 14-15; straight peduncular part 6-8, not including a larger pored scale on the base of caudal fin. Median predorsal scales 5. A single scale row on cheek. First 2 dorsal spines in males elevated, forming an elongate pennant-like structure, its length, 0.7-0.8 in head. Caudal fin rounded in juveniles, females and small males; rhomboid in mature males. Pelvic fins of males long and club-shaped, 0.7 in HL (Ref. 44110).