Characterized by having variable color, mainly brown on head, anterior body, and first dorsal fin; posterior two-thirds of body, tan to light brown color with combination of white and brown marbling and three brown bars; sometimes reddish brown with seven narrow white bars on side; brown median fins, anal fin with blue streaks; dorsal rays VI+I,10; anal rays I,10; pectoral rays 15; no scales on head and body; depth at origin of pelvic fin 5.4 in SL; opening of gill extending forward to level of middle opercle; filamentous first four dorsal spines, longest is first spine, 2.1 in SL; long caudal fin with rounded posterior margin; reduced pattern of cephalic sensory pores B', C, D, F and H' including preopercular canals M' and N; vertebrae 26 (Ref. 90102).