This species is has large eyes, separated by a very narrow interorbital, and has the distinctive fringed posterior ventral sucking disc. It is distinguished from Kopua nuimata and Kopua kuiteri by having 5 anal fin rays (vs. 8 or 9 and 7 in the latter species, respectively) and 3

sensory head pores (vs. 7 and 2 in the latter species, respectively). It is further distinct from K. nuimata by a lower dorsal fin ray count (6 vs. 10 or 11). Color when fresh (based on photo of freshly collected holotype): base colour pale cream-white, with numerous bright reddish orange

bars on sides of body that merge dorsally to form distinctive arches; dorsum with numerous yellowish bands on pink-orange background; head and operculum orange; eye gold, tending blackish dorsally, with pale ring around a black pupil; all fins are translucent orange, except pelvic fins, which are hyaline white (Ref. 90872).