This species is distinguished by having the following characters: body deep and compressed, depth 2.1-3 times in standard length or SL (body of juveniles relatively deeper than that of adults); snout 5.2-5.7 times in SL; mouth small; teeth spatulate, close-set, with denticulate edges; total gill rakers on first gill arch 14-16; continuous unnotched dorsal fin IX,27-30 soft rays; A III,25-28; caudal fin deeply lunate with concavity 3.3-4.5 times in SL; a lancet-like spine on each side of caudal peduncle which folds into a deep horizontal groove, this spine long, 1.9-2.5 times in head length, and venomous; stomach thin-walled. Colour of body with upper 3/4 with alternating black-edged blue and yellow stripes and those on the head mainly diagonal; lower fourth pale lavender to bluish white; dorsal fin finely striped pale blue and yellowish; anal fin grey with a yellow basal band and a light blue margin; caudal fin blackish with a large, grey crescent centroposteriorly, edged at the front in bluish white and at the posterior margin with black; pectoral fins are pale except basally where they are coloured like the body; pelvic fins yellow-orange with a white lateral margin and a blackish submarginal line (Ref. 9808).

Description: Philippine specimens demonstrate different color patterns.