The fish has a body depth of 2.3–2.6 in standard length (SL), with a dorsal profile of the head only slightly convex, forming an acute angle. The jaws are prominent, though the mouth is small, featuring a pair of protruding canine teeth in the jaws. The lips are large and fleshy, with the lower lips split on the midline forming two lobes. There is a broad canine present at each side at the rear of the upper jaw. The fish has 13–14 pectoral fin rays, and the lateral line is complete with 27–28 pored scales. In terms of coloration, the body displays five large, broad black vertical bars with narrow white interspaces. The head is greenish above and yellowish below, with several blue-edged pink to orange bands. The dorsal fin is brown with bluish stripes and spots, the anal fin is black with several blue stripes, and the caudal fin is brown. Small individuals exhibit similar features with yellow bars on the body continued as yellow bars on the dark head.