Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 150 m . Tropical; 35°N - 33°S, 31°E - 134°W

Maturity: Lm 21.5  range ? - ? cm Max length : 56.8 cm FL male/unsexed; ; common length : 45.0 cm TL male/unsexed; ; max. published weight: 2.8 kg ; max. reported age: 18 years

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body moderately deep; greatest depth 2.2-2.5 in SL; preopercular notch and knob well developed; vomerine tooth patch crescentic, without a medial posterior extension; gill rakers of first gill arch 9-10 + 115-20 = 25-30 (including rudiments); caudal fin distinctly forked with rounded lobes. Colour red to greyish, an orange hue on lower part of opercle and in pectoral fin axil; fins red (pectoral fins) or usually dark brown to blackish; soft part of dorsal fin, anal and caudal fins with a narrow white margin; juveniles with a large round black spot at base of caudal fin ( Ref. 9821, 90102).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal;  Cross section: oval.