This species is distinguished by the following characters: pored lateral-line scales 15 + 5-6; gill rakers on 1st branchial arch 13-14; body depth 3.1-3.2 in SL; head length 3.1-3.2 in SL; snout length 3.8-3.9 in HL; eye diameter 4.2-4.4 in HL; interorbital width 4.2-4.4 in HL; least depth of caudal peduncle 2.2-2.4 in HL; caudal-peduncle length 1.8 in HL; dorsal fin of both sexes without elongate filamentous rays; longest dorsal-fin soft ray of TP male 4.3-4.4 in SL; pelvic fin length 1.6-1.8 in HL; caudal fin of both sexes slightly rounded (truncate in preserved specimens); maximum size to at least 49.3 mm SL; color of TP males generally orange on head and anterior body, grading to reddish or purplish posteriorly (except broad, purple-edged, median orange zone); head and body pink ventrally; stripe pattern purple-to-reddish stripes and bands on head and body with 2 primary stripes expanded and diffuse on posterior half of body; dorsal and anal fins mainly burgundy red to purplish with yellow-orange sections anteriorly on dorsal fin and posteriorly, and narrow blue outer margins; caudal fin mainly blue to purple with broad outer margin of yellow; pelvic fins purple to burgundy red; pectoral fins translucent; peak nuptial-display pattern features a large white patch behind pectoral fin, linked dorsally with tapered stripe of neon blue at level of anterior lateral line, continuing to caudal-fin base (Ref. 107895).

Description: dorsal-fin rays IX; anal-fin rays III,9; pectoral-fin rays (including upper rudimentary ray) 14; lateral-line interrupted, pored scales 15 + 4 (15 + 5 or 6); scales above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 2; scales below lateral line to origin of anal fin 6; median predorsal scales 5; median preventral scales 5 (4); transverse scale rows on cheek 2; circumpeduncular scales 14; gill rakers 13 (14); pseudobranchs 12; body depth 3.2 (3.1) in SL; body width 2.2 (2.1) in body depth; head length 3.2 (3.1) in SL; snout length 3.9 (3.8) in HL; eye diameter 4.2 (4.4) in HL; interorbital width 4.4 (4.2) in HL; least depth of caudal peduncle 2.4 (2.2) in HL; caudal-peduncle length 1.8 in HL; mouth small, oblique, maxilla not reaching vertical at front edge of eye, its length 4.4 (4.7) in HL; 3 pairs of curved canine teeth anteriorly in upper jaw, progressively more laterally projecting, 3rd (posteriormost) pair largest; single pair of canine teeth anteriorly in lower jaw, very strongly curved laterally; side of jaws with single row of small close-set conical teeth; no canine tooth at corner of mouth; no teeth on palate; fleshy flap on side of lower lip; gill rakers short, longest about 1/3 length of longest gill filaments on 1st gill arch; posterior nostril an oval opening about 2-3 times larger than cephalic sensory pores, about level with fleshy upper edge of eye and slightly anterior to vertical at anterior bony edge of eye; anterior nostril much smaller, forming an oblique slit a short distance in front of posterior nostril and slightly more dorsal in position, without noticeable fleshy rim; cephalic sensory system consisting of 9 pores posterior and ventral along edge of eye, 2 supraocular pores, 5 occipital pores, a single mid-interorbital pore, 3 small pores on side of snout, 4 mandibular pores, and 5 preopercular pores; head scaled except for anterior occipital region, interorbital space, snout, and chin; a row of pointed scales on base of dorsal and anal fins; basal half of caudal fin with large scales; axillary scale of pelvic fin slightly shorter than pelvic spine; midventral scaly process of pelvic fins slightly longer than pelvic spine; free ventral margin of preopercle extending forward to vertical at center of eye, vertical posterior margin to level of lower edge of pupil; exposed bony edge of preopercle smooth without serrations; origin of dorsal fin above 3rd lateral-line scale, predorsal length 3.1 (3.0) in SL; dorsal-fin spines progressively longer, 1st 5.5 in paratype in HL (damaged in holotype), and 9th 2.4 in HL; soft portion of dorsal fin gently rounded without filamentous rays, longest (3rd) ray 4.4 (4.3) in SL; origin of anal fin below base of 1st dorsal fin soft ray, preanal length 1.7 (1.8) in SL; 1st anal-fin spine 3.4 (3.8) in HL; 2nd anal-fin spine 2.9 (3.1) in HL; 3rd anal-fin spine 2.7 (2.9) in HL; longest (penultimate) anal-fin soft ray 4.2 in SL; caudal fin truncate (preserved) to slightly rounded (when live and fin fully expanded), 4.6 (4.7) in SL; pectoral-fin length 1.5 (1.4) in HL; pelvic-fin length 1.6 (1.8) in HL (Ref. 107895).

Coloration: color of TP male in life: head and anterior body generally orange, grading to reddish or purplish posteriorly (except broad, purple-edged, median orange zone); head and body pink ventrally; pattern of narrow purple to brownish stripes on anterior body; dorsal and anal fins mainly burgundy red to purplish with narrow blue outer margin; caudal fin mainly blue to purple with broad outer yellow margin; pelvic fins purple to burgundy red; pectoral fins translucent (Ref. 107895).

Male nuptial coloration: head and anterior body generally orange, orange continued posteriorly as broad zone initially, gradually tapering nearly to a point at caudal-fin base; upper and lowermost portions of side purplish brown and pinkish respectively; several narrow brown to purplish stripes on head and body; dorsal and anal fins mainly burgundy red with purple rays, except anterior (to about 6th dorsal-fin spine) and posterior (last 1 or 2 rays) parts of dorsal fin and posteriormost portion of anal fin yellow orange; narrow blue margin on both dorsal and anal fins; row of triangular blue spots (increasing in size posteriorly, largest about 2/3 pupil size) along base of dorsal fin; caudal fin purplish to blue on basal 2/3 with broad yellow outer margin; pelvic fins burgundy red with purple rays; pectoral fins translucent; a dramatic color change occurs at peak nuptial display in which body assumes a dark purplish hue (particularly noticeable along upper back) with a large, bright white patch just behind pectoral fin, linked above to a tapered stripe of neon blue at level of anterior lateral line, which continues to caudal-fin base (Ref. 107895).

Color of IP in life: head and body reddish or red-orange, grading to white on ventral aspect, with reddish-to-bluish stripes mostly paralleling those of TP males; initial-phase fish of filamentosus group mostly similar in appearance (Ref. 107895).

Color of holotype in alcohol: after several months in alcohol, pale whitish to pale tan; broken purplish stripe from rear margin of eye to pectoral-fin base and similar stripe just above, extending onto anterior dorsal part of body; broad charcoal-colored zone on upper side below soft dorsal fin; slightly yellowish mid-lateral stripe, tapering posteriorly on rear half of body; lower side mainly whitish with numerous fine melanophores; dorsal and anal fins whitish with purple spines and rays; caudal-fin rays purple on basal 2/3 and translucent whitish on outer margin; pelvic fins purple; pectoral fins translucent (Ref. 107895).