The fish has a cylindrical body with three pairs of canine teeth on the lower jaw anteriorly. The third dorsal spine is the longest, and the spinous dorsal is connected by a membrane to the first soft ray near the base. There are 17–19 (rarely 17) pectoral fin rays and 58–62 lateral line scales, with no palatine teeth present. In terms of color, the body is light red dorsally, transitioning to white ventrally. There are longitudinal rows of indistinct light red blotches on the body, culminating in two distinct dark red spots at the base of the caudal fin. The snout is light blue with oblique yellow lines.