This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: D XIII,10-11 (mode 11); A II,10-11 (11); pectoral-fin rays 18-20 (19); upper and lower procurrent caudal-fin rays 3; pored lateral-line scales 17-18 (18); gill rakers 6-8 (7) + 19-22 (21) = 26-30 (28); the longest dorsal fin soft ray length 24.6-36.4% (mean 29.4%) of SL; first anal-fin spine length 6.5-8.4% (7.1%) of SL; caudal-fin length 43.9-59.8% (48.6%) of SL; posterior tips of caudal-fin lobes filamentous; presence of broad black bands along preopercular and opercular margins, sum width of two bands 15.3-27.9% (23.6%) of head length; in adults, the distal half of soft-rayed portion of dorsal fin is transparent; no triangular black blotches at the upper or lower caudal-fin base; caudal peduncle and fin are tinged yellow; soft-rayed portions of dorsal and anal fins are yellowish, while spinous portion of dorsal and pelvic fins dark blue in juveniles (Ref. 129596).