Color olive-brown or bronze, with dark blotches forming vertical bars; dark black blotche on middle of dorsal-fin base; tip of lower jaw purplish; bright blue and orange stripes and markings on head and fins; fully scaled nape; tail tri-lobed in adults.

OFFSHORE; differs from other sea basses in that it is often found on sandy or muddy bottoms.

Small species, rarely more than 10 inches.

Spawns January through March; young adults are predominantly female, transforming into males as they grow older; maximum size is about 10 inches.