Morphology: Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Anal spines: 4 - 4; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10. Body with red and white stripes following the scale rows, the red stripes slightly narrower than the white ones (Ref. 4201) (red stripes usually broader for Taiwan and Japan specimens); lateral line scales for northern Philippines, Taiwan and Japan specimens 44-49; 5 oblique rows of scales on cheek; body depth 2.8-3.1 in SL; head length 2.8-3.1 in SL; short snout, 3.65-4.15 in head length; interorbital width 4.3-4.65 in head length; maxilla extending from below front of pupil to below center of eye, upper jaw length 2.6-2.9 in head length; premaxillary groove reaching about a vertical at anterior edge of orbit; rounded anterior end of nasal bone; edge of small nasal fossa without spine; median edge of nasal bone (premaxillary groove margin) without spinule; upper edge of suborbital bones below the eye weakly serrated and without lateral spine; short preopercular spine, about 1/3 orbit diameter, 5.5-8.2 in head diameter; 4th or 5th longest dorsal spines, 1.7-2.2 in head length; third anal spine long, 1.15-1.4 in head length (Ref. 27370).

Max size: 20 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 9710)