This species is distinguished by the following characters: D X,13; A II,12; pectoral rays 17; total gill rakers on first branchial arch 27-29; pored lateral line scales 84-92 with 98-120 scales in lateral series above lateral line; preopercular serrae 16-23; greatest body depth 3.4-3.9 in SL; length of last dorsal spine 2.5-3.0 in HL; longest soft dorsal ray 1.1-1.4 in HL; colour in life mainly greenish (darker dorsally), shading to light blue on lower head, thorax, and abdomen; caudal peduncle with an elongate sky aqua-blue saddle-like spot dorsally; narrow sky-blue band from front of snout to lower edge of eye; lips mainly blue; narrow yellow-orange band just below blue band, passing just under eye to posterior margin of preoperculum; dorsal and anal fins pale yellow with pink margin; caudal fin reddish with indistinct central pale streak, the upper and lower margins narrowly light blue to pinkish; pectoral fins mainly translucent except upper 4-5 rays blue; pelvic fins bluish white; iris yellow with bright blue streak dorsally and ventrally (Ref. 85568).