This species is distinguished by the following characters: body elongate, laterally compressed; jaws about equal or lower jaw protruding slightly; premaxillae protrusible. maxilla extending to vertical through about anterior margin of pupil; upper and lower jaws both with an outer row of conical to small canine teeth and an inner band of villiform teeth, the caniniform teeth at anterior ends of jaws are not appreciably enlarged; teeth on vomer triangular patch, maxilla without scales or longitudinal ridges; interorbital region flattened. Gill rakers on first gill arch 7-8 + 15-18 = 22-26; last soft ray of both dorsal and anal fins well

produced, longer than next to last ray; caudal fin forked; pectoral fins long, about equal to or somewhat shorter than head length; membranes of dorsal and anal fins without scales; tubed

lateral-line scales 57-62. Colour variable, ranging from brownish to lavender or reddish

purple; snout and interorbital space with narrow yellow lines and blue spots often persisting as dark spots when preserved; dorsal and caudal fins light blue or lavender with reddish orange margins (Ref. 9821).