Marine; reef-associated; oceanodromous ; depth range 12 - 400 m . Subtropical; 32°N - 22°S

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm Max length : 30.0 cm SL male/unsexed;

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 13 - 14. Medium-sized fish of moderately deep body. The eyes large; the mouth oblique, with the lower jaw projecting upwards. The body tapers very slightly to beneath the middle of the soft portion of the dorsal fin, and then abruptly to the peduncle. This species is distinguished from P. fitchi by the presence of numerous rusty brown to yellowish spots in the membranes of the dorsal and anal fins, and its less tapered body.
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal;  Cross section: compressed.