Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 25. When fresh, reddish brown to brown dorsally, reddish to almost white ventrally; irregular fine whitish marks on scales. Head with white speckling; a reddish transverse band on chin, followed by a diffuse white band; reddish iris. Whitish pectoral fins, base reddish brown; 3 narrow irregular brownish red stripes on whitish pelvic fins. Pungent dorsal spines; rounded caudal fin at all sizes. Skin dark around anus, almost black. Lateral line interrupted.