Color in life: juveniles brown with 2 bluish white stripes on body, the lateral stripe disappearing with increase in size; female yellowish brown, stripes dull and faint; male color more intensified and bright than female color, a large yellow area beneath and above the pectoral fin base. Yellow lips thick and fleshy, forming a short tube when mouth is closed. Head entirely scaled except for sheath over base of upper lip, preorbital, and chin. Lacks teeth in the upper jaw between the two anterior pairs of canines and the large canine in each corner (Ref. 1602).