This species is distinguished by the following characters: body oblong, its depth 2.8-3.5 in SL; preopercle rounded, finely serrate, the lower edge fleshy; opercle with 3 flat spines; upper edge of operculum almost straight; rear nostrils not much bigger than anterior nostrils; front of jaws with a pair of large canine teeth; 1-3 large canines at midside of lower jaw; gill rakers of first gill arch 7-9 + 13-16 = 20-25 (including 4 to 7 rudiments on each limb); caudal fin lunate, the upper and lower lobes produced, about twice length of middle rays; pectoral-fin rays 17-19; lateral-line scales 66-76, in series 109-127. Colour of head, body and fins generally reddish with small irregular pale blue to pink spots; 3-4 diffuse pale saddle on back; broad caudal fin usually dusky, with narrow white posterior margin or edge (yellow in V. louti); juveniles similar in colour to adults, but with relatively fewer and larger pale blue or pink spots (Ref. 39231, 89707, 90102).