This species can be distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: D IX, 28-32 (mode 29); A III, 20-22 (mode 21); a single ocellated spot on soft-rayed portion of dorsal fin; absence of ocellated spot on anal fin; band on caudal peduncle usually orange when fresh (obscured in preserved specimens) with a short, saddle-like, blackish dorsal streak; a sharply pointed pelvic fin with an nearly straight posterior contour when spread (most obviously in large specimens >10 cm SL); presence of dark band on each interopercle joining on ventral midline with anterior margins forming a sharply pointed "V" in ventral view (Ref. 128188).