Body elongate and compressed. Upper jaw with 2 canines anteriorly and an additional canine posterolaterally; lower jaw with 4 canines anteriorly. Lateral line scales with a single pore. Upper and lower lobes of caudal fin slightly projecting. Body yellowish olive dorsally, pale ventrally; a longitudinal yellow line running from lower pectoral base to caudal base; head with several pale blue lines; dorsal and anal fins olivaceous red with longitudinal blue stripes; caudal fin olivaceous red with irregular blue markings; a small black spot posterior to eye.
Distribution:
Florida, Antilles, and Suriname.
Remarks:
This species is similar to H. poeyi which is different from the former by having 3 pores on the anterior lateral-line scales and a small black spot on the posterior part of the dorsal fin. (Matsuura)