Elongated body, rounded head, mouth terminal to sub-terminal. 2 dorsal fins. First with 6 spines with second or third the longest ones. Second dorsal with one spine and 6 to 8 soft rays. 26 to 37 scales in lateral series, 8 to 13 in posterior transverse series and 9 to 19 small predorsal scales. Cheeks naked, small scales on opercle.

caudal. Base of pectoral fins shows small cycloid scales so does prepelvic area. Belly with cnetoid scales. Caudal rounded. Body brownish, grey-yellow to grey-violet with 7 to 11 dark diagonal stripes diagonales on the flanks. 2 to 3 black spots or short stripes at the base of the caudal. First dorsal with a black mark and a white stripe on its superior margin, base of the second dorsal sometimes with 1 or 2 raws of elongated grey or black marks. Caudal and pelvic usually hyalin to greyish. One striking black mark at the base of the pectorals. Head with several iregular red and blue stripes. Up to 6cm SL (Ref. 57749).