Body oblong and compressed. Preopercle with fine serrae on the posterior margin and enlarged serrae at the angle; a flat spine on posterior part of opercle. Top of head and maxilla scaleless. Bases of soft portions of dorsal and anal fins without scales. Second anal spine shorter than the third. Teeth on both jaws small and forming bands; the anterior teeth canine-like. Pelvic fin long, its tip extending posteriorly beyond origin of anal fin. Caudal fin deeply emarginate, upper lobe projecting posteriorly. Body silver with a pink cast dorsally, silver-white ventrally; a yellow line extending from snout through lower edge of eye to posterior margin of opercle; pectoral fin pink, other fins yellow.
Distribution:
From Gulf of Mexico to Suriname.
Remarks:
This species is sepafable from other Atlantic serranids by having 10 dorsal spines, elongated pelvic and the caudal fins, and the higher numbers of gill rakers and lateral-line scales. (Matsuura)