This species is distinguished by the following characters: body deep and compressed; greatest body depth 1.9-2.2 in SL; longest dorsal-fin spines 4th to 8th, a little longer (1.1-1.3 times) the last dorsal-fin spine. Colour blue dorsally, silvery below; horizontal golden bronze bands, some broken, running along single sides of trunk, breaking up into spots near bases of dorsal and anal fins and on caudal peduncle, and (except in specimens from South India), spots also on nape; iris silvery and unspotted. Similar with Siganus guttatus in having a diagonal line across cheek from below orbit to corner of mouth, a bright yellow spot about size of orbit on sides at base of last few rays of dorsal fin, and a bluish caudal fin with rows of golden spots which appear as 3 or 4 cross bars on the folded fin. Differs with Siganus guttatus mainly by having mainly lines instead of spots (Ref. 9813, 90102).