This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: 4th-5th dorsal spine the

longest, D X,17; A III,8; pored lateral-line scales 33-34; head 2.9-3.0 in SL; body depth 2.8-2.9 in SL; when alive, pink or yellowish pink on head and body, slightly darker dorsally fading ventrally; snout and region immediately dorsal to eye is bright yellow, with a thin bright yellow band extending dorsally on either side of the nape; presence of a thin bright yellow horizontal stripe extending horizontally from posterior middle edge of eye posteriorly across most of operculum, continuing as a series of irregular oblong spots on midline of body from just posterior to gill opening to a point approximately one-fourth to one-half of pectoral fin; a second thin bright yellow stripe extending posteriorly from lower jaw across maxilla just ventral to eye and continuing horizontally across operculum and base of pectoral fin; the dorsal fin pink or yellowish pink with darker pink regions on membranes, and a bright magenta margin

extending from tip of first dorsal fin posteriorly on anterior half of soft dorsal fin; males with a large circular ocellate spot covering the posterior one-third of soft dorsal fin, bluish magenta on perimeter and dark red with faint yellow stripes centrally; color of anal and pelvic fins magenta or yellow; the caudal fin translucent yellow, more pale and translucent medially

and distally, with bright magenta margins extending along margins of both lobes (Ref. 114834).