This species is distinguished by the following characters: dorsal surface with 8 brown blotches; a large brownish patch above the opercle; cheek with an oblique reddish-yellow bar; below midline of lateral body, a series of 8 reddish bars; posterior portion of cheek with 1-3 small spots; dorsal fin with 3 rows of small brownish spots; pectoral fin base whitish with few small spots; above midline of lateral body is a series of small spots, each restricted to the size of one scale; caudal fin with 4-5 vertical rows of small spots; D V,21; A I,17; pectoral-fin rays 16-18 (mainly 17); pored lateral-line scales 52-54 (53-54); gill rakers on 1st gill arch 14-19 (16-18); pseudobranches 17-24; lower jaw with 3 pairs of canine teeth anteriorly; palatine teeth absent; vomerine teeth stout, in a single curved row; scales on body ctenoid, becoming cycloid on nuchal, prepectoral and prepelvic areas; margin of preopercle smoothly indented; fourth dorsal-fin spine longest; caudal fin rounded, with a slight prolongation on upper lobe; appressed pelvic fin not reaching origin of anal fin (Ref. 89549).