The species exhibit a range of body shapes from deep to slender and fusiform, encompassing small to large sizes. They possess sizable, protractable mouths with teeth arranged in one or more rows, featuring conical and pointed shapes. The outer row includes canine-like teeth, with some anterior ones enlarged into distinct fangs. Vomerine teeth are organized in chevron, triangular, or lunate patches, possibly with a posterior extension or arranged in a rhombus pattern. The interorbital space is convex, and a serrated preopercle with a deep incision on its lower margin characterizes them. Some species may have a bony knob between the operculum and preopercle, particularly evident in those with a deep incision in the preopercle. The dorsal fin is continuous, typically displaying a slight incision between the spiny and soft-rayed sections. The spiny part may have 10 or 11 spines, while the soft-rayed part may feature 11 to 16 rays. The anal fin comprises 3 spines and 7 to 10 soft rays, and the pectoral fins boast 15 to 18 soft rays. Both dorsal and anal fins are scaled, and the caudal fin may be emarginate, truncate, or occasionally forked. These snappers showcase remarkable color variation, often exhibiting background hues of reddish, yellow, grey, or brown, overlaid with darker stripes or bars. Many species also bear a distinctive large blackish spot on the upper flanks beneath the front soft rays of the dorsal fin.