The species is characterized by the absence of scales on the cheek, opercle and midline of the nape; fifth pelvic fin ray branched sequentially once; a moderate interorbital trench;

a short and narrow postorbital trench; color of living specimens red with a white belly, a large brown-black spot larger than the eye immediately above the pectoral fin base and numerous smaller dark spots across the nape; and in preserved specimens the dark spots remain but the ground color is yellow. Differs from its congeners by the very large 1.25 eye diameter brown-black spot above the pectoral fin base and the rows of smaller brown spots on the nape separated by a honeycomb pattern (Ref. 59339).