A very small Grouper, the Coney is seen in various color phases, including vivid yellow, gold-and-brown, red-and-brown. Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9. Body and fins red; many small blue spots edged with black line scattered on body; dorsal edge of caudal peduncle with 2 prominent black spots; a pair of black blotches on tip of lower jaw; depth of body 2.6-2.9 in SL; head length 2.3-2.5 in SL; flat interorbital area; rounded preopercle, with shallow notch above the angle with upper edge finely serrate and moderately enlarged, lower edge fleshy; subopercle and interopercle smooth; posterior and anterior nostrils small and subequal; scaly maxilla, reaching to or beyond vertical at rear edge of eye; caudal fin convex posteriorly, corners angular; ctenoid lateral-body scales