Head to eye and preopercle with scales; small and palmate supraorbital tentacle; light gray or light brown body with 2 linear series of uneven brown blotches with larger dorsal series and some upper blotches joining with lower; below eye is an oblique, dark brown bar with white margin; remainder of head dark brown, blending to white ventrally; females with oblique dark bands on second and third dorsal fins, darkening as they cross rays; uneven, vertical dark bars on caudal fin; yellow or orange dorsal and caudal fins in males. Dorsal rays IV + XIV-XV (typically XV) + 10-11 (typically 11); lateral line discontinuous, 21-24 + 14-19; mandibular pores 5-6 + 1 + 5-6 (Ref. 54980).