This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: scale rows between 6th dorsal-fn spine and lateral line 8-10 (usually 9); scale rows between last dorsal-fn spine and lateral line 10-13 (11); middle postorbital scale rows 3-4 (3); caudal-peduncle depth 8.2-9.6% (moderately 9.9%) of SL; interorbital width at vertical midline of eye 19.8-24.2% (22.3%) of HL, maxillary depth 14.3-16.9% (15.6%), and lower opercular spine length 28.0-33.6% (31.3%); dorsal margin of interorbital space is somewhat fattened; with nasal and parietal spines; supraocular spine is rudimentary; second lacrimal spine directed posteroventrally; tip of the lower opercular spine just short of or reaching to posterior margin of opercle (sometimes beyond margin in specimens from ca. 15.0 cm SL); jaws with short, dense conical teeth; premaxillary teeth in 3-6 irregular rows, totaling ca. 200 teeth. Colouration: head and body base color scarlet to dull red, with numerous small smudge-like or blurred black blotches above the lateral line when fresh; black distal margin on caudal fin in specimens from ca. > 10.0 cm SL; oral surface uniformly dull- to coal black in preserved specimens (uniformly pale, sometimes a few smudges on specimens up to ca. 10.0 cm SL) (Ref. 123746).