Body elliptical and compressed, body depth 2.1 in SL. Eye large, its diameter 3.7 in head length. A sharp spine at corner of preopercle, reaching near to border of opercle. Pelvic fin longer than head, connected broadly with body by a membrane. Soft portions of dorsal and anal fins elongated. Caudal fin rounded. Body red; dorsal, pelvic, and anal fins black; pectoral and caudal fins red.
Distribution:
In the western Atlantic from Cape Maine to Argentina; also found in the Pacific.
Remarks:
This species is easily separable from other Atlantic priacanthids by having the following:the pelvic fin longer than the head and the soft portions of dorsal and anal fins elongated. (Matsuura)