A slender reddish maori wrasse with a broad reddish midlateral stripe, bordered by narrow pale stripes, from the snout to the tail base, a pair of small dark spots posteriorly within the stripe, a whitish lower head, reddish-brown rectangular patches along the back, and a narrow reddish stripe along the lower side. Oriental Maori Wrasse also have pale scale edges forming indistinct zigzag-like vertical bars along the body, white pelvic and anal fins with bright red markings, a dark blotch on the base of the dorsal-fin membrane between the first and second spines, and a darkish marking around the beginning of the lateral-line. Females are reddish-pink with about 5 whitish saddles along the back and often extending onto the lower sides as irregular bars, and a pair of distinct black spots (ocellated in juveniles) posteriorly on the midside.