Appearance
Kyphosus cornelii is similar to the silver drummer (K. sydneyanus) but it has a slender body shape when compared to other drummer species. The rear edge of the pectoral fins is an orange-yellow colour. The upper and lower margins of the caudal fin have a pale margin with a dusky submarginal bar. The main difference from the silver drummer is the more distinctly forked tail and the pale caudal fin margin and the suborbital dark moustache. It attains a maximum total length of 70 centimetres (28 in).

