Tapered body with pointed snout. Large eyes and mouth. The dorsal fin extends to the height of the caudal peduncle. The coloring is golden yellow on the back becoming gradually paler along the sides and almost silvery on the belly. Typical of the species are the four light stripes running lengthwise, with the longest stripe running from the mouth to the caudal peduncle. The edges of the dorsal and caudal fins are black. This fish measures forty centimetres in length.

The body is oval and compressed. The mouth is terminal with protruding incisors and the snout is pointed. The caudal fin is rounded. The colouring of is very vivid making it very easy to recognise. The clown triggerfish is one the best known in its family. The upper portion of it body is dark and speckled with yellow. The lower portion is adorned with large white spots. The lips are a yellowish orange and there is a yellow band beneath the eyes. The clown triggerfish live along the outer wall of the reef and grow to a length of 50 centimetres.