Easily identified by the large black blotch on the tail. Body and head spotted, except in large males that feature lines on the cheek instead (Ref. 48636). Upper third of body greenish to brownish grey, flecked with dark brown, the lower two-thirds white with 3 or 4 longitudinal rows of small dark brown spots, sometimes linked by narrow dark stripes except lower row as discrete yellow-edged black spots. Caudal fin with a very large black spot centrobasally in fin. Last membrane of spinous portion of dorsal fin connected to first dorsal-fin ray nearly at height of fifth dorsal-fin spine (Ref 42740).