Diagnosis: Dorsal fin XIII, 18-21, notched between spinous and segmented-ray portions; anal fin II, 19-21; pectoral rays 13-15 (usually 14); pelvic fin I, 3; caudal fin, procurrent rays 7, segmented rays 13. Vertebrae 12 + 25-27. Orbital cirrus simple and slender, may have a short lateral branch, less often up to 4 branches; nasal cirri short and palmate, may rarely have more than 6 branches; nuchal cirri simple and slender, may have a single branch or a ragged edge. Mandibular pores 6. Dorsal lips margin entire, ventral margin crenulated. Occipital crest absent, but large males have a low thin ridge (less than 1.8 mm); no crest or ridge in females Three color-pattern types described for different localities (see Ref. 9962). Body of males with 6-7 dusky bands with 1 or a pair of dark margined, pale, oblong spots on each band; dark spots on spinous dorsal, dusky lines on rayed dorsal. Females with spots on caudal peduncle; body sometimes with fine dark specks (Ref. 4404). Body depth at anal-fin origin 4.6-5.3 in SL (Ref. 90102).