Head and body light grey, ventrally white, sides with small red blotches and streaks. First dorsal fin yellow or grey, with vertical yellow bars, white spots and streaks edged with black. Second dorsal fin light grey with horizontal yellow and white streaks on posterior half. Caudal fin with 2 wide, vertical, dark grey bars. Anal fin distally black. Preopercular spine with 4 to 11 small antrorse serrae on its dorsal margin and an antrorse spine at its base. First dorsal fin at least twice as high as second dorsal fin. Caudal fin in males without filaments (Ref 42832).