Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 40 m , usually 20 - 40 m . Tropical; 19°N - 18°S

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm Max length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; ; common length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed;

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0; Vertebrae: 122 - 130. Color brown with about 4 longitudinal rows of dendritic black blotches; very fine white scribbling anteriorly on body and fins; behind eye an irregular black spot bordered above and below by white; pores on side of jaws in large white spots. Juveniles distinctly marked on the head and adults plain brown, but showing black barring posteriorly on the dorsal and anal fins on the tail .
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like;  Cross section: compressed.