This species is distinguished by the following characters: D IX,11; A III,12; pectoral-fin rays 13; lateral-line scales 27 and +1 on caudal-fin base; head scaleless; gill rakers 14-17; one pair of large, projecting, and slightly recurved canine teeth anteriorly in each jaw, the upper pair is slightly out-flaring while the lowers curving forward and fitting between uppers when mouth closed; each side of upper and lower jaws with a short irregular row of 3-7 chisel-like incisiform teeth, no canine posteriorly at corner of mouth; body elongate, its depth 4.1-4.7 in SL; moderately compressed with body width 1.8-2.6 in body depth. Colour of female IP orangish to reddish to pink, grading to whitish ventrally, snout yellowish, the first two dorsal-fin spinous membranes black, edged distally with yellow-orange margin, median fins yellowish; while colour of TP male with greenish upper body and bluish lower one, a distinct mid-lateral blue stripe over green stripe along side of body; head yellowish above, blue below, with one blue stripe behind eye extending across operculum and usually dipping down to meet upper pectoral-fin base, upper snout yellowish with no stripes in front of eye; the first two dorsal-fin spinous membranes black; slightly rounded to truncate caudal fin with a prominent medial blue bar followed by a greenish or black area and a blue margin (Ref. 116679).