Body elliptical and compressed, covered with imbricate plate-like scales. First dorsal fin over gill opening, with trigger-like locking structure. Posterior end of pelvis with movable encasing scales. A groove in front of eye. Enlarged osseous scales behind gill opening. Scales on body with no tubercles or spines, relatively smooth. Upper jaw with two rows of teeth; the outer series with 8 teeth, the inner with 6. Lower jaw with 8 teeth arranged in a single row. Anterior soft rays of dorsal fin produced into filaments. Upper and lower lobes of caudal fin elongated. Body dusky blue dorsally, orange ventrally; 2 curved blue lines extending from snout to pectoral base; soft dorsal fin and anal fins edged with a blue line.
Distribution:
Tropical regions in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Remarks:
This spacies is easily distinguishable from other species of Balistes by 2 curved blue lines on the head. (Matsuura)