This species is distinguished by the following characters: chin with 6 pores, no median pit; gill rakers on first gill arch 7-11 + 1 + 17-19 = 26-30; D XIII,18-20, 3rd to 5th spines longest; lips fleshy, moderately swollen with age; scales ctenoid (rough to touch); lateral line tubed scales about 54-58; body depth 2.6-2.9 in SL; caudal fin slightly rounded in juveniles, truncate in adults. Colour of juveniles with few horizontal to slightly oblique dark brown bands which subdivide with age until the body appears to be dark chocolate brown above, with a network of fine white lines running up and back, the broad brown bars breaking up into smaller and smaller spots on lower sides; belly white; lips and fins bright yellow, anal and caudal fins dotted with black; pectoral fins with a splash of bright crimson or scarlet red at the base (Ref. 47695, 90102).