This species is distinguished by the following characters: D IX,12; A III,12; pectoral rays 12; interrupted lateral line, 21 + 5 pored scales; cheek naked except for 3 rows of small scales below eye, first row of 7 scales curves to behind lower fourth of eye, second one straight with 6 scales, and the third row, 3 embedded scales; 2 small scales dorsoanteriorly on opercle, 1 embedded; scales absent basally on dorsal and anal fins; 17 gill rakers; body depth 3.3 in SL; body compressed, the width 2.6 in body depth; dentition generic; origin of dorsal fin above posterior edge of orbit; first 2 dorsal spines slender, flexible. the first spine slightly longer, 3.0 in head length (HL); third dorsal spine 4.8 in HL; space between first two dorsal spines 2.3 in space between second and third dorsal spines; membrane deeply notched between second and third spines; slightly rounded caudal fin is very short, 1.8 in HL; pelvic fins short, not approaching anus, 1.7 in HL; when fresh, greenish gray, scales below lateral line with a vertically elliptical violet spot, except for a broad bright red area above anal fin and ventral half of caudal peduncle; scales above lateral line with green edges and a faint red spot; anterior edge of head and nape blue; 2 vertical parallel violet lines from chin across lips and fading half distance to eye; median fins blue with yellow markings; pectoral fins translucent, except for black edges on upper three rays, the base violet, with two broad lavender-pink arcs around base; pelvic fins blue; iris yellow with a broad lavender-pink ring. Iniistius griffithsi differs from I. brevipinnis in having a more evenly convex dorsal profile of the head, a shorter suborbital, larger mouth, and its fifth and sixth dorsal and anal rays are the longest, 2.5-2.6 in HL (vs. penultimate rays longest, 3.0 in HL in I. brevipinnis) (Ref. 93522).