Adult: Pale brownish grey, with close-set small brown spots on upper 1/2 of head and body; body sometimes with irregular dark bars; edge of spiny dorsal and inside and along outer edges of rear of mouth yellow; no dark spots on dorsal and anal fins; pectoral fin with dark rays, pale membranes, whitish margin; a dark moustache above rear of top jaw. Juvenile: distinctly bicolored: head and body dark brown above, abruptly white below; tail with a black spot at base of top rays, and upper and lower margins black; front of spiny dorsal yellow, that color persisting in small subadults.