This medium-sized species of barred Enneapterygius is distinguished by the following characters: D2 XIII-XV; A 18-20; lateral-line scales 14-19 + 16-20; total lateral scale rows 33-36; proportional measurements in thousandths of SL - eye diameter 94-128, preorbital 50-75, body depth 176-206, preanal fin length 483-538; sides of body with two short and five complete bars; pectoral-fin base has a vertical dark bar; preorbital with an oblique dark band; dorsal fins are pale except for a dusky base; anal fin is dark grey in male and with four oblique brown bands in female; pelvic fins are white, caudal fin pale (Ref. 114928).