Body robust, somewhat compressed; a high crest on nape extending from or just before dorsal to between middle of eyes; large depression below and in front of eye; cheek with 7 vertical rows of papillae; margin of preopercle with indentations at each pore; 1 pore between center of eyes, another between rear border of eyes; mouth opens at front, oblique, reaches under pupil; teeth in bands; dorsal fin VI (4th spine longest, seldom reaches beyond 3rd-4th ray of 2nd dorsal) + I, 10; anal fin I, 9 rays; pectoral 16-20 (usually 18) rays, reaches past anal fin origin in adults; pelvics fused into disc; tail round, about equal to head length; scales large, smooth on breast and on nape back to between 4th-5th dorsal spine and pectoral base, rough on rest of body; top of nape and crest without scales, scales on side of nape below a oblique line between rear end of crest and midway between eye & edge of preopercle.
Female pale, upper head and body mottled with blotches of olive-brown to red-brown, cheeks and operculum covered with pale spots, several pale lines radiate behind eye, tail with wavy bars, other fins uniform; male more extensive dark mottling, first dorsal black + orange blotches at rear, dark violet to black when breeding; juveniles with brown blotches at rear & pale stripes at front, pale blotch bordered at front by dark bar on outer ½ of 1st dorsal.
Size: 11 cm.
Habitat: shallow, quiet bays, inlets, estuaries mangroves, also into freshwater.
Depth: 0-6 m.
An Atlantic species known from around the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal.
