This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: D XIII,12-13 (mode 12); pectoral-fn rays 18-19 (19); tubed lateral line scales 20-23 (22); gill rakers 7-8 (7) + 14-16 (16) = 21-24 (23); scales rows above lateral line 4; scale rows between middle of spinous dorsal-fin base and lateral line 3½; scale rows on cheek 5; scales on suborbit, usually continuous over basal area of lacrimal; many scales on anteroventral region of head; scale covering over preopercle and interopercle is continuous; scales on dorsal and lateral surfaces of body with blackish margin (indistinct in subadult); body depth 57.3-60.8% (mean 59.0%) of SL; lengths of eleventh and thirteenth dorsal-fin spines, and pectoral fin 14.4-16.4% (15.7%), 16.1-18.4% (17.7%) and 36.8-40.8% (38.5%) of SL, respectively; blackish bands 5 on lateral surface of body, 0-3 (2) tubular lateral-line scales on fourth band; anteriormost band descending to behind pectoral-fin base; interspaces between body bands yellowish dorsally, becoming whitish ventrally; second and third black bands not extending dorsally onto membranes of spinous dorsal fin; anterior and upper margins of fourth band usually level with sixth dorsal-fin soft ray base and not extending onto small scales at dorsal-fn base, respectively; caudal-fin base no black spots (Ref. 123195).