Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-13; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 11 – 13. This species comes in two primary color phases: a blue-backed (leucopoma) phase and a gray to black (amabilis) phase, typically with two light bars. It has a large blue-edged black spot at the end of the dorsal fin base, and in the yellow form, there are black spots at the end of the dorsal fin and its base. The body depth is 2.3-2.5 times the standard length.