Males are black with a brick red midsection and white chin. Larger males have a fleshy lump on their forehead.
Females are brownish red with a white chin.
Young are reddish orange with at least one white stripe from head to tail and large black spots on their fins and tail. Declining due to fishing pressure and reduction of kelp beds. On rocky bottom and in kelp beds. Monterey Bay to Gulf of California. Hard shelled prey, such as echinoderms, crustaceans and mollusks.