[3] The species was first described in 1938 by Henry W. Fowler under the name Ophioblennius vanderbilti from a specimen collected near Diamond Head, Oahu in 1937 by the George Vanderbilt South Pacific Expedition.

It has dark red to orange slashes on its head extending dorsal and posterior from the snout and encircling the eye.

In general, the spines are soft and flexible but rather more slender than articulated rays.

[7] The species was first described in 1938 by Henry W. Fowler under the name Ophioblennius vanderbilti from a specimen collected near Diamond Head, Oahu in 1937 by the George Vanderbilt South Pacific Expedition.

[8] The species is found in the Eastern Central Pacific: Hawaiian and Johnston islands.