Distinguished by the following characteristics: olive green to reddish brown with scattered irregular white and brown spots and blotches; white triangle at the margin of the interspinous dorsal-fin membranes and bright white tag at the tip of each spine; juveniles with black spots on the top of head and median fins reddish distally with white edge; small black saddle on peduncle; inside of mouth is red; depth of body contained 2.7-3.1 times in SL; head length 2.2-2.5 times in SL; flat interorbital area; rounded preopercle, finely serrate, slightly enlarged ventral serrae; smooth subopercle and interopercle; slightly convex upper edge of operculum; subequal anterior and posterior nostrils (Ref. 89707).