Marine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 40 m . Tropical; 32°N - 24°S

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm Max length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; ; common length : 18.0 cm TL male/unsexed;

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 15; Anal spines: 4; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9. Head and body red, edges of scales silver; silvery white spot anterodorsally on caudal peduncle (often disappears after death); spinous part of dorsal fin mottled light red, the outer part of the membranes bright red . 4-5 oblique rows of scales on cheek. Body depth 2.3-2.7 in SL; head length 2.3-2.8 in SL; snout length 3.6-4.0 in head length. Maxilla extending posteriorly from front of pupil to the center of eye; upper jaw length 2.7-2.95 in head length; premaxillary groove reaching about front edge of orbit; anterior end of nasal bone with 2 short diverging spines; spine at edge of premaxillary groove absent; anterior edge of nasal fossa with 1 (rarely 2) spinule; upper edge of first suborbital bone not serrated . Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal;  Cross section: compressed.