The mouth is large, with the length of the maxilla approximately equal to the distance between the bases of the last dorsal and anal fin rays. Vomerine teeth are arranged in a triangular patch without a posterior extension, and the tongue is toothless. Scale rows on the back rise obliquely above the lateral line. The anal fin has 3 spines and 8–9 soft rays, and there are 18–20 gill rakers on the 1st gill arch. The coloration includes a red or red-orange hue on the back and sides, lighter on the lower parts, with reddish fins. Juveniles exhibit a broad, oblique band of brown or black from the upper jaw to the beginning of the dorsal fin, along with a prominent black band across the caudal peduncle, bordered anteriorly by a pearly white coloration.