The fish has an oblong, highly compressed body with a conspicuous spine at the angle of the preopercle. The dorsal fin consists of 13 spines and 20–22 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 20–21 soft rays. The soft portions of the dorsal and anal fins are rounded, and the caudal fin is also rounded. In terms of coloration, adults have a yellowish-brown body with several distinct diagonal blue lines on the sides and a distinct blue ring above the upper edge of the opercle. There are two horizontal blue stripes on the head, with the upper stripe at the level of mid-eye and the lower just beneath the lower edge of the eyes. The caudal fin appears transparent white.