Diagnosis: teeth in jaws with stout shafts, in 4 or 5 series; outer teeth of young bicuspid becoming tricuspid in adults; number of vertebrae relatively low (30-31); 32-33 scales in lateral line series; modal dorsal fin formula XVI 12; lower pharyngeal bone slender, with its width 29.0-32.4% head length, a little less to a little more its length; toother area of lower pharyngeal bone rather small, its median length contained 1.1-1.5 times in length of the blade; caudal peduncle length 10.0-13.5% standard length and 0.65-0.9 of its depth; pectoral fin 35.0-43.2% standard length; caudal fin with vertical stripes distally, but proximal markings more irregular in adult (Ref. 2).

Description: 7-9 scales between pectoral and pelvic fins (sometimes 6 in young) (Ref. 55985).

Coloration: pelvic and anal fins of breeding males tipped with dark grey, while their throat, chest and belly are dusky grey; females and young with pale slate-grey body and white chest, belly and pelvic fins; black or dark grey lappets and upper edge to dorsal fin; vertical stripes of caudal fin dark brown on a light grey background; pectoral rays red to light brown; flanks may bear 7-8 vertical bars (Ref. 2).