Soft dorsal rays 12 (rarely 13); soft anal rays 12 (rarely 13); pectoral rays 14 (rarely 15); scales in lateral series 36 (rarely 35); transverse scales 11 (rarely 10 or 12); predorsal scales 14-17 (usually 16); vertebrae 15 (rarely 16) + 17 = 32 or 33; snout relatively short, rounded; live coloration consisting of blue grey upper back, yellow tan background on head and ventral third of body, and iridescent blue midlaterally with red spotting; three red stripes from lower rear edge of eye across opercle, with upper stripe extending to an iridescent blue spot on upper pectoral fin base; dorsal fins purplish with yellow margins; red spotting on base of dorsal, anal and caudal fins; iridescent blue margin on anal fin (Ref. 36751).