This species is distinguished from all other pseudochromines by the following characters: D III,26; A III,16; anal-fin spines are moderately slender and weakly pungent, the second spine only slightly stouter than the third; lower lip is weakly interrupted at symphysis; circumpeduncular scales 16. Colouration: when alive the head is orange-brown, becoming bright yellow on lower part of operculum; posterior and ventral part of the orbital rim bright yellow, edged posteriorly and ventrally by purple-blue arc; scales of cheek are indistinctly edged with mauve; body orange-brown, darker on the scale-edges, becoming bright yellow on breast and pectoral-fin base, bright red on abdomen and above anterior anal fin, then dark purplish red on caudal peduncle; dorsal fin is golden to orange-brown anteriorly, becoming reddish brown posteriorly, with reddish brown distal margin; middle of soft portion of fin with 1-3 rows of short, dark reddish brown streaks; anal fin dark reddish brown, becoming golden brown over the spinous portion of fin, with grey distal margin; caudal fin is dark reddish grey basally, abruptly greyish hyaline on distal third of fin, with grey distal margin (Ref. 80681).