This species is distinguished by the following characters: the upper jaw ending distinctly before eye (and to below anterior margin of eye in young); dorsal fin with a detached terminal 2-rayed finlet; anal fin with a slightly detached spine from the rest of fin and covered by skin in fish of larger sizes, then followed by a second spine continuous with the 18-22 soft rays, including a detached 2-rayed finlet. Colour dark olive-blue or green dorsally and on side, white ventrally with 2 narrow light blue or bluish white stripes along sides and a broader olive or yellowish stripe between them; fins olive or yellowish (Ref. 9894,90102).

Description: Anal fin base is shorter than that of dorsal fin base. Dorsal and anal fins are relatively short; with small two-rayed pinnulae just behind the dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 4795).