Lofty triplefin

Dorsal spines (total): 13-16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-10; Anal soft rays: 15. Common amongst Tripterygiids: small, slender fishes. Cirri often present on top of eye and on rim of anterior nostril. Upper and lower jaws each with broad band of conical teeth. Three well-defined dorsal fins; first with 3 spines, second with 10 to 13 spines, third with 7 to 10 segmented rays; last dorsal-fin spine and first segmented ray borne on separate pterygiophores. Caudal fin with 13 segmented rays, 9 of which are branched; pelvic fin with 2 simple segmented rays and 1 embedded spine, inserted anterior to pectoral-fin base. Ctenoid scales on body; pectoral-fin base and belly naked or covered with cycloid scales. Lateral line interrupted at midbody, anterior lateral-line scales pored, posterior scales notched. Body coloration: brown or black bars on a pale (often red) background. Species distinguished by: pectoral-fin base and belly scaled; dorsum and pectoral-fin axil with enlarged scales; segmented anal-fin rays usually 15; pectoral-fin soft rays usually 14; and, pored lateral-line scales usually 11 (Ref.52855).