This species is distinguished by the following characters: TP males hav orbital cirrus and a red banner (bright orange flag on the distal one-third to one-fourth of the anterior region of the spinous dorsal fin, with color is mostly confined to between the first and third spines, Ref. 78428). TP territorial males found in holes with a mostly black head, dark-shaded body, and blackened fins, dorsal fin with a distal red band reportedly without a narrow white band below or a thin white margin; first dorsal-fin spine is short, reaching to about 5th spine base when adpressed, about 1/3-1/2 of HL, 8-15% SL, the second spine slightly shorter than first, third spine about equal or slightly shorter than first, the fourth spine about equal to first, tenth spine is longer than first, anterior dorsal fin profile with a shallow concavity (Ref. 125603).

Dark-shaded TP with relatively short first dorsal-fin spines and a red band, absence of opercular bands or lines, discrete rows of dark spots on dorsal-fin membranes and the dark spots along lateral midline or above midline (Ref. 125603).

IP with short first two dorsal-fin spines, with first spine reaching to base of 5th-6th spine base when adpressed, the second slightly shorter, third 3/4 of first, the middle-fin spines longer than anterior spines; live colors and cranial (Ref. 125603).