This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: 2 conspicuous vertical black bars across the head; dorsal fin with wide black margin, especially distinct in distal spinous part of dorsal fin in fish < ca. 30.36 cm SL, proximal part of dorsal fin yellow; hind margin of caudal fin with narrow black edge in fish to around 30 cm SL, disappearing with growth; 4 scale rows between fifth dorsal-fin spine and lateral line; third outer molar teeth row extending to rear end of both jaws; basal width of 6 enlarged incisor teeth at front of upper jaw larger, 1.0-1.1 mm for 16 cm SL fish, and 5.0-5.5 mm for 34 cm SL fish; D XI,12-14; A III,10; orbit diameter, noticeably larger in fish > 15 cm SL (Ref. 95256).