Body oval, strongly compressed. Posterior nostril large, slit-like, close to eye ondorsal surface of snout. mouth olbique; Teeth villiform, in broad bands on jaws, vomer and palatines. Dorsal fin notched, with X spines and 11 rays; anal fin with III spines and 9 or 10 rays. Body scales margined with minute spines. Body bright scarlet with 3-4 narrow pale vertical bars; median fins with narrow black margin; pelvic fins dark red, blackish distally.
habitats
Associated with rocky habitats and known from 80 to more than 100 m depth but probably also occurring in shallower water, especially as juveniles. Eggs are pelagic, small and spherical.
Distribution
Distributed in the Indo-West Pacific from Red Sea to South Africa; southern Japan to the Arafura Sea, western Australia and Queensland. It is found in northeastern and western Taiwanese waters.
Cuvier, G. etc. 1829 
