Diagnosis: The species has eight red to reddish brown saddles over the dorsal midline and five similar saddles on the ventral midline on a white background. The second dorsal spine is variably elongate. The fifth pelvic fin ray is unbranched. The interorbital trench is moderate to deep, the postorbital trench is generally poorly-developed or absent. The nape is scaled.

Description: Dorsal fins’ second spine variably elongate, from slight to reaching posteriorly as far as middle of second dorsal fin; the first and/or last rays of second dorsal fin may be branched or unbranched with all remaining rays branched. Anal fin’s first ray unbranched, second, third and last rays branched or unbranched, with remaining rays branched. Pectoral fin reaching posteriorly to a vertical in line from between genital papillae and third element of anal fin, four to ten branched rays in mid region of fin. Ventral fin no frenum, basal membrane vestigial, first four rays branched sequentially once, fifth ray unbranched, 50-75% of fourth ray, fourth ray reaching posteriorly to between first to fifth element of anal fin. The lateral scales 23-24-26 (mean - 23.9, n = 24), anterior transverse scales 7-8-9 (mean = 8, n = 23), posterior transverse scales 6-8 (mean = 7.5, n = 23). Cheek and opercle are scaleless; pelvic and pectoral fin bases scaled; predorsal scales 0-8-9 (smaller specimens with few or no pre-dorsal scales). Gill opening extending anteroventrally to below posterior margin of pupil to mid-pupil. Teeth in the lower jaw consist of an enlarged, outer row of widely-spaced, curved canines near the symphysis, irregular inner rows of smaller, caniniform teeth which extend to dorsal flange of dentary, and an innermost row of moderately-developed, spaced canines; upper jaw teeth similar to those in lower jaw, extending almost to distal tip of premaxilla, irregular inner rows of small caniniform teeth but no inner enlarged row. Tongue margin round or truncate. The gill rakers on first arch 2-4 + 12-16 = 15-20 (mean = 17.5, n = 6, gill rakers of holotype damaged, no value included). Anterior nasal opening a medium narrow tube, posterior nasal opening a large pore with a raised rim; nasal openings may or may not be located on a raised oval sac. Bony interorbital width 1/4 - 1/3 pupil width, with a moderate to deep (steep-sided) interorbital trench; postorbital trench generally absent or slightly-developed (occasionally moderate to well-developed) (Ref. 52975).