This species is distinguished by the following characters: D XI,13 or 14 (usually 13); A III, 8; pectoral-fin 16 or 17; lateral-line scales 47-50; horizontal scale rows above the lateral line 8 or 9; scale rows above lateral line rising obliquely toward dorsal profile; predorsal scales extending forward nearly to level of just above anterior edge of orbit; scale rows on cheek 8-11; without subocular extension of cheek scales; gill rakers on first arch 7 or 8 + 15-17 = 22-25; tongue is smooth, toothless; preopercular notch developed just above angle; interopercular knob inconspicuous; the first blue stripe is running from above anterior edge of eye and ending below the 7?9th dorsal-fin spine base; third stripe usually running from middle of upper part of opercle or anterior edge of upper opercle to below posterior fourth of soft portion of dorsal fin, reaching the last soft dorsal-ray base (Ref. 110188).