Characterized by generally whitish body color with three black stripes on upper two-thirds of head and body; presence of diffuse narrow bars on side; first and second dorsal fin equal in height; rounded caudal fin; longitudinal scale series 60; fully scaled predorsal region; scales dorsally on opercle, absent on cheek; ctenoid body scales; cycloid scales on nape, abdomen, and opercle; depth of body 4.5-4.8 in SL (Ref. 90102).