Size

Typically, 1 – 9cm.

Identification

Slender body with small head and inferior mouth. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism. Males are brown-grey in colour, have yellow-red dorsal, anal and caudal fins, and a series of transverse bars along the lateral body. Females can be differentiated from other Stiphodon species based on two to four black spots on the second dorsal-fin spine and soft rays, reddish marks the on tip of the first and second dorsal fins.