Body robust; head bluntly pointed, large adults develop hump on forehead; 2 pairs of enlarged, curved canines at front of each jaw; rear of upper jaw with moderately enlarged canine on each side; dorsal fin with XII spines, 10 rays; anal rays III, 12; pectoral rays 17-19; lateral line complete, smoothly arched; scales relatively small, 52-57 on lateral line, those on head reaching only to rear of eyes.
IP: brownish red to rose with white chin; TP: blackish head and white chin, pink to dusky red midsection and blackish rear portion of body; juveniles reddish orange with whitish midlateral stripe and large black spots on dorsal, anal and pelvic fins, and on caudal fin base.
Size: attains 91 cm.
Inhabits kelp beds and rocky shores.
Depth: 1-90 m.
Monterey, California to Baja and the western and central eastern Gulf of California.
