Scales on the head extend forward to between the level of the anterior margin of the eyes and the posterior nostrils. There are no canine teeth in the jaws, and both the suborbital and maxilla are scaleless. The posterior edge of the preopercle is serrate, and there are more than three transverse scale rows on the preopercle. There are 10–11 gill rakers on the first gill arch. The coloration includes a rosy orange body with four pale reddish saddles on the back and two on the caudal peduncle. The suborbital and the edge of the preopercle are silvery yellow, and there is a black blotch (retained in preserved specimens) at the base of the dorsal fin between the 8th spine and the 1st soft ray. The dorsal fin has an orange edge, the anal fin is pale rosy, and the iris is red.