Stiphodon kalfatak, a new species, is described on the basis of material collected from Vanuatu. It is distinguished from all other congeners in having 9 segmented rays in the second dorsal fin, usually 14(4)-15(4) pectoral rays, 39-44 tricuspid premaxillary teeth, 1 small symphyseal tooth in females vs 3-4 stout teeth in males, and in having a low number of scales in transverse forward (7-8) and back series (8-9). Males have on the flanks a longitudinal bright line divided in three colours (red, yellow and green) and females are grayish to brownish.