ABSTRACT
Body oblong, somewhat compressed, depth contained 2.6–3.3 times in standard length; body width 1.8–2.3 times in the depth. Head smaller than most other groupers, head length 2.9–3.2 times in standard length; dorsal head profile evenly convex; interorbital area slightly convex, its width greater than eye diameter; preorbital narrow, its depth distinctly less than eye diameter, preorbital depth 10–15 times in head length; preopercle rounded, finely serrate, the lower edge smooth and fleshy; ventral edge of subopercle and interopercle smooth; middle opercular spine located one-third distance from lower to upper spine, the upper edge of operculum distinctly convex; posterior and anterior nostrils subequal in size; posterior part of maxilla in adults with a hook-shaped or step-like expansion on ventral edge; supramaxilla well developed; jaws with a pair of small canines at the front; palatine teeth present; midside of lower jaw with 2 rows of teeth, the inner teeth depressible and twice as long as outer teeth. Gill rakers 8–10 on upper limb, 14–16 on lower limb. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 14–16 rays, the fin origin over rear end of operculum; dorsal-fin membranes not (adults) or slightly (juveniles) incised between the spines, dorsal-fin spines slender, the dorsal-fin spines not much thicker than the dorsal-fin rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 9 or 10 rays, anal-fin spines slender; pectoral fins rounded, with 18 or 19 rays, the middle rays longest; pectoral fins slightly longer than pelvic fins; pelvic fins not reaching anus; caudal fin truncate to slightly emarginate, with 8 branched rays and 9 or 10 procurrent rays in upper part and 7 branched rays and 9 or 10 procurrent rays in lower part. Midlateral-body scales ctenoid, with numerous auxiliary scales; lateral-line scales 66–76; lateral-scale series 101–114.
