This species is distinguished by the following characters: D X, 16-17, the fourth or fifth dorsal spine the longest; anal-fin soft rays 8; pored lateral-line scales 33-34; head 2.3-2.9 in SL; body depth 2.6 in SL. Colouration of males when alive: head and body rose-pink and crossed by 4 bright yellow stripes with the third continuing as a bright red stripe with magenta edges along the middle of the body, becoming yellow centered on base of caudal fin; dorsal fin with a very broad middle yellow stripe, its margin is magenta; anal-fin base colored like body anteriorly and grading broadly to magenta posteriorly; pelvic fins yellow, except the last two rays which is magenta; eye magenta with an uneven ring of yellow around its pupil; immature and presumed female are yellow with irregu¬lar, near-vertical, wavy red lines following scale margins, its anal fin magenta anteriorly, grading posteriorly to purple, with a greenish yellow streak and pelvic fins bright magenta (Ref. 59379).