The genus is characterized by the presence of moveable teeth which are slender, curved inwards and expanded at the tips. The distinguishing coloration of the species is the presence of orange spots on the head and blue lines on the brown body.
Caudal fin is lunate.
This species is found in large schools, feeding on algae along the edge of reefs. This species is the most frequently ciguateric fish in Tahiti. Total length 20 cm.