Dorsal spines: 8; Dorsal soft rays: 9; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 8; Vertebrae: 24. This species is distinguished by the following: 2 brownish stripes on head and body in life, mid-lateral stripe extending to tip of caudal fin, with variable vertical bars from ventral edge beginning just past the pectoral fin, dorsal stripe from snout to over eye, ending about middle of second dorsal fin, but not past the second dorsal-fin base; roof of mouth and upper gill arches are dark