Marine; reef-associated; depth range 12 - 30 m . Tropical; 30°N - 24°S

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm Max length : 35.0 cm SL male/unsexed; ; common length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed;

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 7; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 13. Head and body dark chocolate brown with purplish hue; iris pale rose-brown, white spotted. Spines stout, pungent, venomous. Preopercular angle 93°-109°. Cheeks completely scaled. Midline of thorax scaled; a row of scales absent along pelvic ridges. Anterior nostril with low rim; expanded posteriorly into a broad flap, reaching halfway to posterior nostril. Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep;  Cross section: compressed.