Characterized by greenish brown body color with complex pattern consisting of longitudinal rows of small white spots; side of body with five narrow brown bars; presence of dark brown band from snout, through eye, to upper back; cheek with white spots and lines; dark-edged red spots dorsally on head; large brown spot above gill opening; basal part of upper caudal fin with large red-brown to blackish spot; 1-2 small black spot on outer part of caudal fin; prolonged third and fourth dorsal spines as short filaments, first dorsal fin taller than second; rounded caudal fin; longitudinal scale series 60-67; ctenoid scales; cycloid scales on nape, abdomen, and breast; predorsal scales 22-25, extending to interorbital space; scales dorsally on opercle, absent on cheek; depth of body 3.5-4.6 in SL (Ref. 90102).