Diagnosis: skin scaleless, but head and body covered with small spines except on snout and caudal region; teeth form beak-like structure consisting in each jaw of two pieces fused on midline and covered by layer of enamel; nostrils consisting of two fleshy lobes placed in front of folded collar surrounding the opening; two pairs of non-perforated nasal tentacles; dorsal and anal fins short and placed far back on body; pectoral fins well developed; no pelvic fins; caudal fin rounded, its length comprised 3 times in SL; longitudinal stripes along sides of body in adults; black-rimmed red ocelli (eyespots) present in juveniles (Ref. 57417).

Description: body stocky; caudal fin about as long as head; gill rakers short and aligned in two rows, numbering 10-16 on first gill arch (Ref. 57417).

Colouration: adults bright yellow in life, with usually 7 longitudinal black stripes on sides of body and caudal peduncle; belly white and fins yellowish, caudal fin bright yellow to orange; young individuals have different colour pattern, with several rows of black-rimmed brick-red ocelli on the posterior region; these ocelli become elongate with growth, coalescing and forming longitudinal stripes of adults (Ref. 57417).