This species is distinguished by the following characters: D XIII,13-14; A II,13-15 (usually 14); pectoral-fin rays 16-18 (usually 18); tubed lateral-line scales 17-18; total gill rakers on first arch 23-25; body depth 1.9-2.1 in SL; no scales on preorbital; with a single row of scales on suborbital, often restricted to posterior part, continuing around posterior margin of eye; colour in life generally gray to bluish gray with a thick black or dark-brown scale margins producing a network pattern; with a black spot covering the entire pectoral-fin base; inner surface of pectoral-fin axil usually bright yellow (except pale gray at Ngulu Atoll); dorsal and anal fins are dark gray or blackish with translucent portion posteriorly with white basal area; caudal fin and adjacent peduncle whitish; the dorsal scleral surface of eye is bright blue. This species differs from other members of the P. philippinus complex by the yellow marking on the inner pectoral-fin axil, by the pronounced white areas at the base of the posterior dorsal

and anal fins, the whitish caudal peduncle, and the overall general paler coloration of the ventral body (Ref. 114927).