Serrations on the preopercular margin are not clearly distinct, and there is an antrose suborbital spine present beneath the eye. The body color is typically dark with a reddish-purple tinge. A broad, white vertical bar extending from the top of the head onto the gill covers and a lateral whitish band below the lateral line are usually present. There is a small black spot on the upper base of the pectoral fin, or the spot may be absent. Scales on the sides of the body have a dark spot at the center, and the median fins appear dirty red, while the pectoral fins have an orange tinge.