This species possess the following characters: D IX-X, 21-25, with anterior spines elongated in small juveniles and with 2nd and 3rd longest in adults; pectoral fin rays 17-18, fin shorter than head and subequal to pelvic fins; lateral line scales 56-66; gill rakers 3-9/14-15; adult's lips swollen. Adults and subadults which are 30-100 cm long with uniform silvery grey or with numerous dark brown or black dots on head and dorsal part of the body; subadults with slightly larger orange-brown spots scattered dorsally on the head, body and peduncle. Juveniles of about 12 cm are grey or yellow, with broad black band from snout through eye to end of tail fin; another band from top of head to rear of dorsal fin; curving black band over front and basal 2/3 of dorsal from and black margins on pelvic and anal fins, and corners of tail fin; additional stripes appear with growth, at ca. 20 cm, stripes break up into spots (Ref. 58304);