This species is distinguished by the following characters: D IX,11; A III,12; pectoral-fin rays 13; lateral-line scales 27 (+1 on caudal-fin base); scaleless head; gill rakers 14; a pair of large, projecting, and slightly recurved canine teeth anteriorly in each jaw, the upper pair slightly out-flaring, the lowers curving forward and fitting between uppers when mouth closed; an irregular short row of 3 - 7 chisel-like incisiform teeth on each side of upper and lower jaws, absence of canine posteriorly at corner of mouth; elongate body with body depth 5.0 - 5.4 in SL; only slightly compressed, body width 1.7 in depth; caudal fin is slightly rounded in initial phase, truncate in terminal-phase male; colour of initial phase reddish orange to pink, often with more yellow tint anteriorly and grading to white ventrally on the head and abdomen, a band of bright reflective white running from tip of upper jaw back to under posterior orbit; colour of terminal phase male in life greenish yellow with three bright blue stripes along posterior half of body, head and anterior body often abruptly darker, with maze of lines, thinner and ranging from bright blue to reddish on head, wider (about one scale high) and bright blue on anterior body; dorsal and anal fins with broad yellow bands bordered above and below with blue stripes, upper and lower margin of caudal fin banded with yellow; red iris (Ref. 114945).