This species is distinguished by the following characters: moderately elongate supramaxilla and mostly rigid maxilla with only a slight flexible lamina posteriorly; upper jaw's inner lining and adjacent membranes with a black blotch; when alive, the opercle, cheeks and upper jaw with prominent blue spots or blotches; no dark blotches on body and dorsal fin; lateral-line ends below verticals between sixth to eighth segmented dorsal-fin rays; caudal vertebrae 19 (Ref. 81517).