This species is similar to B. birdsongi and B. caeruleomaculatus in having unnotched, flattened and horizontally disposed dentary teeth. It differs from its congeners by having an elongate D1 fin spines, protruding from the fin margin (in both sexes) and having the following dorsal-fin colouration in live individuals: D1 with clearly demarcated sky-blue to whitish marginal band; interradial membranes of D1 greenish-brown, spotted with whitish to yellowish speckles, sometimes fused into broken, narrow and wavy lines; the interradial membranes of D2 are grey to pale brown, darker posteriorly, pale grey distally, with a very thin white margin and columns of 0-5 whitish spots between adjacent rays; and D2 rays are darker than interradial membranes (Ref. 93058).