The adult has a dark reddish brown or purplish green body with red lips and a yellow to green spot or streak behind the eye. There are dark bands around its mouth. The subadult has a red head, belly and fins except for the tail, with wavy black and white stripes on body to foretail. Also, there are dark bands around mouth and eye. The juvenile has a black to red brown body with numerous small white spots. The tail is translucent and often displays a white bar across tail base. Lives solitary or forms small groups in reef areas, 1 - 20 m depth.