Diagnosis: This species is characterized by the presence of predorsal scales; second and third dorsal-fin spines elongate; moderate interorbital and postorbital trenches; no opercular scales; and, scales across the top half of the body outlined with pigment. The fifth pelvic fin ray is branched sequentially once or unbranched depending on the capture location and living specimens has three yellow stripes extending along the body, two stripes in the dorsal and anal fins (one dark and one yellow) and a red or cerise iris with four large, irregularly-spaced yellow spot (Ref. 57544); characterized further by having longitudinal scale series 22-24; predorsal scales 6-9; depth of body about 4.2-4.4 in SL (Ref. 90102).