Body elongate and compressed. Body depth 2.6〜3.0 in SL. Posterior edge of upper jaw reaching to below anterior margin of eye. Two pores and a median groove on chin. Preopercle serrated, with two enlarged spines at lower posterior angle. Teeth conical, arranged in bands; the outer series enlarged. Soft portions of dorsal and anal fins with scales on their membranes. Body dark brown dorsally, pale brown ventrally; eight vertical dark brown bands on side of body; all fins yellow, caudal fin dusky posteriorly.
Distribution:
From Texas to Brazil, found along sandy shores and on muddy bottoms.
Remarks:
This species is easily separable from other haemulids by having 8 dark brown bands on the body.