This species is distinguished by the following characters: chin with 6 pores, no median pit; gill rakers on first gill arch 11-14 + 1 + 16-19 = 26-34; D XII-XIII (mostly XIII),19-22, 4th or 5th spines longest; lips fleshy, moderately swollen with age; scales ctenoid (rough to touch); lateral line tubed scales about 53-60; body depth 2.5-2.8 in SL; caudal fin slightly rounded in juveniles becoming emarginate in adults. Colour of body bluish grey, juveniles with golden or rusty orange stripes along the body that break into a reticulate pattern and later form small spots that may be lost with age or remain as lines, or lines of spots on head (Ref. 47695, 90102).