Number of dorsal spines: 9; Total dorsal soft rays: 11-12; Anal soft rays: 12-13. There are no anal spines in this fish. They have three preopercular spines with the upper one being long and bayonet-like, extending to or beyond the opercular margin. The anterior 13-33 lateral line scales have a small spine or ridge. In adults, the iris lappet is bilobed while in juveniles, it is crenate. An interopercular flap resembling fingers is present. The first gill arch typically has 7-9 total gill rakers with 8 being the usual count.