This species is distinguished by the following combination of characters: absence of antrorse spine below eye; dorsal scaled area on head reaching anteriorly to between the anterior margin of eye and anterior nostril; no scales on bony opercular ridge and lower limb of preopercle; lateral-line scales 46-48; pectoral-fin rays 17-18; upper part of pectoral-fin base with a reddish blotch when fresh; two blue bands across dorsum of snout; preserved specimens with 18-20 brown diagonal lines on body; posterior nostril usually elongate horizontally, its horizontal diameter 100.0-155.6% (mean 114.8%) of vertical diameter; deep caudal peduncle, its depth 11.4-13.1% (12.2%) of SL; pre-dorsal-fin length 31.4-36.4% (33.9%) of SL (Ref. 118677).