Diagnosis: head moderately sloped; rostral tip of the neurocranium swollen; jaws isognathus; outer rows of the jaws with bicuspid teeth; absence of any interrupted pigment in the pale blue dorsal fin in combination with black bars on a blue ground; gill rakers on first ceratobranchial 8-14; gill rakers on first epibranchial 1-3 (Ref. 27596). Females with gray/blue to blue/brown ground color and no yellow pigment in unpaired fins, ocelli in anal fin present (Ref. 76849).

Description: 0-3 pored scales post lateral line; 4-6 scale rows on cheek; 3-4 teeth rows on upper jaw, 3-4 on lower (Ref. 76849).

Coloration: breeding males at Maleri Island: head light-blue; cheek gray/blue with yellow highlights; ventral border of cheek yellow; gular region blue/white; body bright blue with 5-7 faint gray/black bars anterior to caudal peduncle; caudal peduncle blue/gray; belly and breast gray/blue; dorsal fin pale blue; caudal fin with pale gray rays, membranes blue with trailing yellow/orange edge; anal fin blue/gray, with 1-5 orange/yellow ocelli; pelvic fin with white leading margin, membranes black anteriorly, clear posteriorly; pectoral fin with gray rays and clear membranes (Ref. 76849). Breeding males at Namalenje Island: head black with 2 light-blue interorbital bands; gular region blue/black; body light-blue with 6-8 black bars anterior to caudal peduncle; caudal peduncle dark blue/gray; belly and breast blue/black; dorsal fin pale blue; caudal fin with gray rays, membranes blue with narrow yellow/orange edge; anal fin blue/gray, with 1-5 orange/yellow ocelli, sometimes vertical bar extending onto membranes between first 3 spines; pelvic fin black with white leading margin; pectoral fin with gray rays and clear membranes (ref. 76849). Females at Maleri Island: head light brown with gray gular region; body light brown/gray; dorsal, caudal, and anal fins light brown/gray; small yellow spots on trailing edge of anal fin; pelvic fin black with white leading margin; pectoral fin with gray rays and clear membranes (Ref. 76849). Females at Namalenje Island: head dark brown/black with brown gular region; body dark brown/black with bright-blue highlights; dorsal, caudal and anal fins dark brown/black; small yellow spots on trailing edge of anal fin; pelvic fin black with white leading margin; pectoral fin with brown rays and clear membranes (Ref. 76849).