Caudal fin red (young) to yellow (adults); other fins yellow to orange; large male with bright red spot behind eye, female with brassy spot ); dark olive to brown above; iridescent green on yellow-brown side; white to light yellow below; dusky iridescent yellow stripe along back; yellow streak above dusky stripe along side and around snout; black caudal spot (all darkest on young); rounded snout; 38-45 scales on lateral line; usually 16-17 scales around caudal peduncle; pharyngeal teeth 1,4-4,1. Breeding male is pink below with pin-orange fins and has many large tubercles on top of head (Ref. 86798).