Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 100 m . Tropical; 24°C - ? ; 35°N - 30°S, 99°E - 178°W

Maturity: Lm 37.3, range 21 - 60 cm Max length : 120 cm SL male/unsexed; ; common length : 35.0 cm SL male/unsexed; ( Ref. ); max. published weight: 23.6 kg ; max. reported age: 26 years

Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VIII,11; A III,8; pectoral rays 14-17 (modally 16); lateral line scales 89-99, in longitudinal series 112-127 scales; interorbital space no embedded scales; gill rakers on first gill arch developed 1-3 + 6-10; front of jaws with a pair of large canine teeth and side of lower jaw with 1-4 large canines; body elongate, its greatest depth 2.9-3.6 in SL; truncate to slightly emarginate caudal fin; pectoral fins 2.0-2.3 in HL; pelvic fins 2.0-2.4 in HL; Head, body and fins with numerous blue spots on red, pale grey or olive to dark brown background; caudal fin with a narrow white posterior margin except near the corners; juveniles (< 5 cm) brown on upper 2/3 of side with scattered blue spots, broad whitish stripe from eye to caudal fin base, white on lower head and yellowish ventrally on side ( Ref. 4787, 54980, 90102).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal;  Cross section: oval.