This species is distinguished by the following characters: lateral profile of body with straight taper to slender caudal peduncle; a distinctive postorbital notch above and behind each eye but not extending across top of head as occipital groove; rostral process with a broad medial notch edged with small spines becoming progressively longer to corner on each side when viewed from above; pored lateral line scales 62-67; scales above lateral line 3 and below about 13-16; D1 VIII (rarely VII), second significantly longer than first and third; D2 16-17; A 16-17 (rarely 15); pectoral fins reaching about third to fifth anal fin ray, the first free pectoral fin ray reaching well

short of pectoral fin tip, but to or almost to tip of pelvic fin. Colouration: distal half of caudal fin red with dusky grey obscuring upper third; the inner surface of pectoral fin charcoal to dark green to distal margin with moderately large bright blue spots arranged in four or five transverse bands, fine reddish margin dorsally and ventrally (Ref. 127946).