This species is distinguished from its congeners in having the following characters: D1 III, D2 XII, D3 10; A I,18; lateral line discontinuous, first series with 16-18 pored scales, second series 15-17 notched scales; mandibular pore system 4+1+4; supraorbital cirrus simple and slender; nasal cirrus short and broad; body pink to light orange with 4 vertical or slightly oblique deep brown bars from behind pectoral fin base to caudal fin base, each broad bar edged with whitish border; caudal fin is pale with a brownish-black streak near its distal margin; indistinct sexual dichromatism, with spawning males possessing a blackish anal fin and spotted with melanophores on body, head, dorsal and pectoral fin rays (Ref. 79877).