Black Margined Goatfish

This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VIII,9, with first dorsal spine small, second dorsal spine longest, last dorsal soft ray branched to base; A I,6 (3 paratypes with unusual two spines and first spine short and thin, second spine up to two-third of first soft ray, first anal soft ray segmented and unbranched, last ray branched to base; pectoral fin rays 16, upper 2 rays unbranched; pelvic fin I,5; principal caudal fin rays 15 (15-16), with uppermost and lowermost rays unbranched; lateral line scales 36 (36-37), five scale rows between dorsal fins; total gill rakers on first gill arch 25 (25-26), with gill rakers on upper and lower limb of first arch 8 + 17 (7-9 + 17-18), and several anterior rakers undeveloped but visible on both limbs (Ref. 97569).

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 6