This species is distinguished from its congeners in the western Atlantic by the following characters: lateral line pored scales 44-49; scales above lateral line 6 and below 8; straight white stripes 8, usually wider than black stripes on sides; chin with 5 pores. Colouration: submarginal white stripe on soft dorsal fin, no dark bar between eyes, body with 3-5 broad dark horizontal stripes and narrow stripes in between, no wide transverse dark bar from dorsal-fin origin almost to pelvic-fin base (Ref. 128874).