Diagnosis: Distinguished by the following characteristics: brownish head and body; 5-7 dark vertical to oblique bars along side; curved oblique dark stripes on pale head; reddish unpaired fins; compressed head and body; second dorsal rays I,6-8; anal rays I,5-7; pectoral rays 16-19; longitudinal scales 23-26; TRB 8-11; predorsal scales 8-11; circumpeduncular scales 13; second to fourth spine of first dorsal fin longest; first dorsal fin rounded without elongate spines (Ref. 84480).

Description: Body moderately deep, tail rounded (Ref. 52193). Head compressed; eyes large; mouth large, reaching below eye in females or beyond eye in males (Ref. 52193). Dorsal fin with 7 spines and 7-8 soft rays; anal fin with 1 spine and 5-7 soft rays (Ref. 52193). Scales in lateral series 23-29 (Ref. 52193, 84480).

Colouration: Translucent olive brown with dark brown or black bars and spots, including a double spot at base of the caudal fin; first dorsal fin with a large blue, black on preservation, spot near hind edge (Ref. 52193).