This species is distinguished by the following characters: dorsal-anal fin ray formula 10/9; lateral scales 27; pectoral-fin rays 6, branched; cephalic sensory-pore system pattern 2; fifth segmented pelvic-fin ray is present and 25% length of fourth ray; non-fimbriate genital papilla; dorsal fin is not filamentous; branches on fourth pelvic-fin ray 13; body with numerous vertical black lines (from black pigment in scale-pocket tissue) forming spindle-shaped patterns, with a curved black bar at the caudal-fin base, and dark reddish bars on the head.

Description: D VI + I,10; A I,9; pectoral fin rays 17; pelvic-fin rays I,5; when alive, the background color on back and head is pale yellowish gray, the sides and abdomen translucent with 8 dark internal bands showing through; the ventral surface very pale gray, almost white; the back and sides with numerous bold vertical black lines (from black pigment in scale-pocket tissue) forming spindle-shaped patterns; the caudal-fin base with a curved black band followed by a white area before black spots begin on the caudal-fin rays; the pectoral-fin base with scattered melanophores with a narrow oblique dusky line with light areas on each side on midlateral part, areas above and below the line yellow-orange; the opercular membrane directly in front of pectoral-fin base white with a bluish tinge; the side of head with 3 dusky red bands extending from top to lower side of head; first band in 2 parts, the first directly under the eye, the remainder below it extending down to bottom of cheek and the second extending from the postocular spot down the cheek to the preopercular edge, the third band from the top of the head down across the opercle; pupil of the eye black, the iris gold and red; lower third of first dorsal fin clear with yellow-orange on the spines and scattered melanophores on the membranes, the distal two-thirds mottled black; second dorsal fin similar to first; anal fin dusky and black on distal portion; pelvic fins clear with scattered melanophores (Ref. 79591).