This fish reaches 15-25 cm in length (occasionally 30 cm), It is pale fawn pink in colour, tinged with bright blue on the head and fins, there is a prominent black spot in the middle of each side and there are numerous small dark spots over all the body and fins. At night they rest on the bottom and their colour changes to blotchy pink and their spot fades. Like other plankton feeding serranids they have small, flexible mouths and large , forward facing eyes.

A schooling species found over rocky reefs and sometimes in open sand areas. Usually occurs in areas which are exposed to continual strong tidal water movement. Forms large aggregates in deeper water where it feeds mostly in the lower part of the water column on plankton. Large schools are found everywhere in the Southern Fiords.
Occasionally caught in trawls over open sand areas.

Plankton feeder.

Collins Guide to the Sea fishes of NZ: Ayling & Cox