Has 8-10 dark, quite irregular, vertical bars somewhat wider than interspaces; a complete black bar at caudal-fin base; in life, a black spot at the anterior base of the dorsal fin followed by an orange to red spot; an elongated dark blotch; an incomplete lateral line reaching at most to vertical of anal-fin origin; no median incision in upper lip (Ref. 27732). Caudal fin emarginate (Ref. 39226); caudal peduncle length 6.5-7.5 times in SL, depth 0.8-1.2 times in length (Ref. 43281). Dorsal-fin origin above or in front of pelvic-fin insertion; top of head spotted; scales absent on belly in front of tip of pectoral fin (Ref. 12693).