This species is distinguished with pectoral rays 14; dorsal rays IX, 10; anal rays III, 9 ; median pre-dorsal scales 4; scale rows on cheek 3, upper row with 6-7 scales, middle with 5 scales, and lower with 1 or 2 scales; a single laterally projecting canine on side of upper dental plates of adults; lips covering more than three-fourths of dental plates; dorsal fin moderately high, the longest dorsal spine 2.5 (2.1-3.0) in head length; caudal fin truncate in young, slightly emarginate in initial phase fish, and emarginate to lunate in terminal males; color of initial phase brown dorsally and on sides with abdomen pale to white below, two white stripes extending from behind eye to caudal peduncle, often a third white line below dorsal fin; snout and iris of eye yellowish, with a yellow patch covering base of pectoral fin; a distinctive black spot on anal fin, from the third anal spine to the second anal ray; a prominent black spot on second dorsal spine; a small black spot dorsally on base of pectoral fin; terminal-male phase complexly colored in blue-green, pink, and yellow with dark saddle extending from postorbital region to 4th dorsal spine and slanting anteroventrally to just behind pectoral fin base; head with a broad blue-green stripe on snout that divides to form a branch through upper eye, extending a short distance beyond, a branch through lower eye, extending on to opercle; chin and suborbital region pinkish yellow with a short transverse blue-green chin strap; an

irregular blue-green zone ventrally on head that continues broadly onto side of chest and anterior abdomen; body blue dorsally posterior to dark saddle, a midlateral blue-green stripe on caudal peduncle that joins a large blue-green crescent in caudal fin; dorsal fin with 4 color bands, red proximally, yellow, red, then blue marginally; anal fin red proximally and blue distally (Ref. 72409).