This species is distinguished by the following characters: an orbital cirrus and a red banner; terminal phase (TP) territorial males in holes with a black head and blackened anterior dorsal fin with a distal red band over a narrow white band and a thin white margin, the red band extending posteriorly to 5-7th spinous membrane, typically forming a straight line when fully erected in displaying TP (or a high crescent when not erected), with a narrow anterior flap variably present along first spine; first three dorsal-fin spines are elongated, first spine reaching to 7-10th spine base when adpressed, more than 3/4 HL, 21-23% SL, second spine 80-90% of first, third spine 65-80% of first, fourth to tenth spine about 1/2 to 2/3 of first; profile of anterior dorsal fin is usually a broad down-sloping concavity due to shorter middle-fin spines (unless fully erected). Colouration: dark-shaded and pale TP with a red-banded dorsal fin with irregular rows of larger dark spots along membranes of mid and posterior spinous-dorsal fin, lower operculum and branchiostegal membranes with prominent wider dark bands alternating with pale bands and/or white lines (= banded-operculum group), absence of a row of discrete small dark spots along anterior lateral midline, sometimes a row of dark spots along anterior upper body; transitional males with elongated anterior two dorsal-fin spines with a distal red band over reticulated brown to orange bands on first few membranes. Initial phase (IP) with elongated first two dorsal-fin spines, usually orange-tipped membranes, the first spine reaching to base of 6-8th spine base when adpressed, the second slightly shorter, third about 1/2 of first (earlier IP and juvenile with less elongate spines); colors when alive include red, orange, and pink; cranial pattern not well documented; IP head spots usually full complement; anterior upper body frequently speckled; melanophores near the pectoral-fin base typically form a long, thin, slightly oblique bar, often followed by one or more spots (Ref. 125603).