This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VI + I,15-16; A I,15; pectoral-fin rays 15; longitudinal scale series 50-54; scales in transverse series 14-17; predorsal scales 19-23; naked cheek and opercle; scales cover the basal 1/4-1/6 of the caudal fin and becoming rapidly smaller and cycloid; prepectoral area with about 3-6 vertical series of fine cycloid scales covering the entire base of the pectoral fin; cycloid scales on prepelvic area , 9-11 in the midventral row; interorbital 90-100% of eye diameter; width of body at anal-fin origin 10.8-12.4% of SL; depth of caudal peduncle 64.6-73.7% of its length; head depth 55.2-60.5% of HL; length of 11th second dorsal-fin ray 9.9-11.5% of SL; length of 8th anal-fin ray 10.2-13.5% of SL. Body with longitudinal yellow stripes only on upper half of body; mid-dorsal stripe and the pair of dorsolateral stripes diverging before eyes and then converging halfway between eye and first dorsal fin, a yellow stripe between mid-dorsal and dorsolateral stripes extending from side of nape continuing along dorsal-fin bases and almost reaching, with interruptions, to ocellus on back; head brown dorsally and whitish ventrally, yellowish white demarcation stripe, starting anteriorly at angle of jaw and going back to middle of pectoral-fin base; another yellowish white stripe beginning from the posterior part of upper jaw across upper cheek, opercle, and upper pectoral-fin base becoming a demarcation stripe behind pectoral fin, dividing the brown upper part of body from the grey lower part, and disappearing below middle of second dorsal fin; first dorsal fin with dark red or red-brown ocellus, a black center and edged with black; a weak orange-red streak is visible above ocellus (Ref. 119548).