Body ovate and compressed. An enlarged and strong spine at posteroventral corner of preopercle. Anterior soft rays of dorsal and anal fins produced into filaments. Caudal fin truncate. In adult body brown; scales behind pectoral fin with a central dark spot and pale brown edge; all fins dark brown; posterior margin of caudal fin with a narrow white line. In young body dark brown with 5 crescentic pale yellow lines; the last line on base of caudal fin, its posterior edge slightly concave; a vertical white band on posterior part of caudal fin.
Distribution:
From New England to Brazil.
Remarks:
This species is separable from P. paru by the smaller number of dorsal spines and no yellow blotch on the base of the pectoral fin. (Matsuura)