This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characteristics: generally deep body in young specimens, becoming slender in larger adults, 2.14-2.70 (mean 2.42) times in SL: D usually XI,11 (very rarely XI,10); scale rows between fifth dorsal-fin spine and lateral line 3.5-4.5 (3.5 often observed in northwestern Kyushu Island and Seto Inland Sea, Japan, southern Korea and Vietnam, and in pre c. 1980 specimens in China, Taiwan and Japan; pers. obs.); scale rows above lateral line 4.5-5.5, scale rows below 10.5-12.5; second anal-fin spine longer than third anal-fin spine [14.6-24.8% (mean 20.6%) of SL], 1.19-1.58 (mean 1.40) in 2AS and 3AS; pored

lateral-line scales 44-47 (mean 45.2); the first soft dorsal-fin ray slightly longer than last dorsal-fin

spine; color of pelvic, anal and caudal fins mostly whitish yellow to strong vivid yellow, except contrasting lower yellow margin on caudal fin; black streaks near anal-fin base on inter-radial membranes between yellow anal-fin rays, even in preserved specimens; no black blotches on inter-radial membranes between dorsal-fin rays; a weak diffuse dark blotch at origin of lateral line (usually covering region of first pored lateral-line scale) continuing as relatively dense blackish shading on upper part of posterior opercle (Ref. 93743).