This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: head scaly except for subopercle (naked) with numerous small pores; scales on top of head reaching forward to between the anterior nostrils and snout tip; lower margin of eye tangent to a line from snout tip to upper pectoral-fin base; suborbital with a large retrorse spine (a small antrorse spine also sometimes present on third infraorbital, immediately above suborbital spine); posterior margin of preopercle serrate or denticulate, the lower edge smooth; second anal-fin spine is longer and more robust than first or third anal-fin spines; most body scales, except for breast and caudal peduncle, are with greenish yellow spot (spots darker in live fishes); caudal peduncle yellowish; a broad white bar from nape onto operculum; suborbital with obscure, rectangular, white patch; a white band beneath lateral line is never present; upper limb of opercular margin blackish, lower limb is reddish orange; upper base of pectoral fin has a small wedge-shaped dark spot; fins are yellow (Ref. 130620).