Body ovate and compressed. An enlarged and strong spine at posteroventral corner of preopercle, two small spines at anteroventral portion. Two short spines at lower edge of interopercle. A blunt spine at preorbital. Posterior rays of dorsal and anal fins produced into filaments. Caudal fin rounded, not produced. Body greenish bule; scales with yellow edge; a black blotch encircled by narrow blue line on nape; a blue blotch on posterior edge of opercle; base of pectoral fin with a large blue blotch; distal parts of dorsal and anal fins yellowish orange with narrow marginal blue line; caudal fin yellow basally and greenish posteriorly; pectoral and pelvic fins yellow.
Distribution:
From Bahamas to Brazil.
Remarks:
The genus Holacanthus is separated from other pomacanthids by having 14 dorsal spines and a blunt spine on the preorbital. This species is similar to H. isabelita but differs from it by a blue-edged black blotch on the nape. (Matsuura)