This species is distinguished by the following characters: D V,21; A I,17; 14-16 (rarely 14 or 16) pectoral rays; 44-50 lateral-line scales; 2-3 + 6-8 gill rakers; 5-6 predorsal scales; ctenoid scales on cheek, 7-8 horizontal rows; 10 canine teeth at front of lower jaw, most posterior large and recurved; vomer teeth in a semicircular patch; with palatine teeth; a prominent sharp spine at upper edge of subopercle; posterior edge of preopercle usually irregular to finely serrate while edge of subopercle and upper edge of interopercle sometimes finely serrate, especially in large adults; body depth 4.0-4.35 in SL (23.0-25.0% SL); middle dorsal spine longest, 8.7-10.2% SL; membrane from last dorsal spine joined near base of first soft ray; caudal fin slightly rounded, 20.3-22.8% SL. Best recognized by the series of 10 quadrangular dark brown blotches along its back, progressively shorter posteriorly, each with a darker brown spot at upper corners that merge with small black spots at base of dorsal rays; the first five blotches are joined basally by a wavy dark brown stripe, its upper parts touching lateral line; ten dark brown bars on lower part of body, broadest in the middle, linked in the broad upper part by two horizontal series of dark brown blotches; narrow upper end of each dark bar joining corresponding lower part of above-mentioned wavy stripe, thus isolating a series of ten large roundish pale spots which may contain dark brown blotches or small dark spots; a narrow dark brown bar below middle of eye, sometimes a second less distinct one below front of eye; a dark line from upper lip to eye; a median brown band on upper lip, edged in dark brown; a large black spot basally on dorsal fin between spines; II and V; caudal fin usually yellow or yellowish with numerous very small black spots, a narrow white posterior margin and black submarginal line; males usually with a dark spot of side of upper lip (one female found with one) (Ref. 57562).