Diagnosis: Dorsal VII,9; Anal II,15-17 (rarely 18); Pectoral rays 14 (rarely 13 or 15). Gill rakers 4-8 + 14-18 (total 19-25). Lateral-line scales 25+3-6. Median predorsal scales 6-7 (rarely 5). Body depth 2.3-2.9 in SL; body width 2.1-2.8 in body depth; eye diameter 2.7-3.5 in head length; first dorsal spine 1.5-2.7 in second spine; second dorsal spine 2.0-2.7, and third dorsal spine 2.2-2.7 in head length; spine of second dorsal fin 2.3-2.9, and second anal spine 2.5-3.2 in head length; pelvic-fin length 4.25-5.2 and caudal-peduncle length 4.7-6.8 in SL; distance from insertion of pelvic spine to anal-fin origin 3.9-5.6 in SL. Posterior preopercular edge variable, usually with few or no serrae above angle; ventral preopercular edge serrate on posterior two-thirds. Scaly sheath along anal-fin base moderately developed (Ref. 54391).

Description: Color in life silvery, sometimes with yellow to orange hue with 20-23 narrow curved orange lines, the first 2 bars behind the opercle sometimes unite to form a diffuse vertically elongate orange mark between pectoral fin base and lateral line; yellow stripe from tip of snout to posterior end of orbit, edged in narrow iridescent blue reaching onto eye above and below pupil; cheek with dark dots, sometimes forming a wide dark cheek mark; large dark caudal spot, frequently diffuse in large adults; spot of juveniles smaller, about pupil size; fins pale, but leading edge of first dorsal fin, and sometimes second dorsal, pale orange; anal fin sometimes with faint orange basal stripe, tip of first 1-2 rays sometimes white (Ref. 54391).