The body moderately deep, greatest depth 2.2-2.5 in SL; preopercular notch and knob well developed; vomerine tooth patch crescentic, without a medial posterior extension; Gill rakers of first gill arch 9-10 + 115-20 = 25-30 (including rudiments); The caudal fin distinctly forked with rounded lobes. Colour red to greyish, an orange hue on lower part of opercle and in pectoral fin axil; Fins red (pectoral fins) or usually dark brown to blackish; Soft part of dorsal fin, anal and caudal fins with a narrow white margin; juveniles with a large round black spot at base of caudal fin