Description. Dorsal-fin rays VI + I, 9 (9 [9], 10 [1] )); anal-fin rays I, 8; pectoral-fin rays 17 (16 [1], 17 [9]), rays 11 – 16 branched in holotype; fifth pelvic-fin ray 10 % (0 – 10 %) of 4 th ray; 5 short branches on 4 th ray (4 – 7), bound by membranes; 2 (2 – 4) segments between consecutive branches of 4 th pelvic-fin ray; 12 branched caudal-fin rays; 17 segmented caudal-fin rays; 25 (24 – 25) lateral scale rows; transverse scale rows 6; second spine of first dorsal fin filamentous in male holotype, extending back to third element of the second dorsal fin; genital papilla in male not fimbriate, trilobed at tip and usually extending to or past first anal-fin ray; cephalic sensory-pore system pattern Group I (complete). Measurements (based on holotype and nine paratypes, 14.0 – 18.1 mm). Head length 28.9 (27.7 – 32.9, 28.9); origin of first dorsal fin 33.3 (31.8 – 35.7, 34.1); origin of second dorsal fin 55.1 (53.2 – 55.3, 54.8); origin of anal fin 58.4 (55.8 – 61.3, 59.0); caudal-peduncle length 24.8 (24.5 – 28.3, 25.8); caudal-peduncle depth 11.8 (10.9 – 12.4, 11.6); body depth 18.7 (16.6 – 19.0, 17.6); eye diameter 7.7 (7.7 – 9.6, 8.9); snout length 3.4 (2.9 – 4.5, 3.9); pectoralfin length 33.6 (30.0 – 36.3, 33.4); pelvic-fin length 28.6 (23.6 – 31.1, 27.9). Color in preservative of holotype (Fig. 1). Background color of head and body pale yellowish. The only bold dark marking on the body is a black occipital spot slightly less than the diameter of the pupil, better developed in males. A peppering of small melanophores on the top of the head behind the eyes and a row of similar spots behind the eye running along the top of the opercle. Anterior tubular nares with a few small melanophores. A very light peppering of small melanophores on the pectoral-fin base, mostly concentrated at its center. Ventral surface of the abdomen from the pelvic-fin bases to the anus peppered with small melanophores. First dorsal fin peppered with small melanophores on distal three-quarters. Entire second dorsal, anal and caudal fins peppered with small melanophores. Pectoral and pelvic fins with just a few small melanophores. Color in life (Fig. 2 — Cenderawasih Bay). Background color of head and body translucent white. Scale margins over most of the body orange. Three orange blotches over the abdomen separated by white blotches. A single, large orange blotch behind the eye and a series of narrow orange dashes running back from it along the backbone and a series of seven white dashes spaced between them. A white blotch present above the pectoral-fin base and at the caudal-fin base, and a series of small white spots running along the dorsal-fin bases. Head with a white line in front of the eye that continues behind it over the opercle A white line is present on the top of the head between the two orange blotches behind the eyes. Operculum and snout reddish, underside of head translucent white. Pupil of eye black, surrounded by a white ring, the iris dark brown and crossed by several spoke-like white lines. Dorsal and caudal-fin elements orange. Occipital spot not obvious in Cenderawasih Bay photograph, but obvious in a Kimbe Bay photograph of a male (Fig. 3).
