It has a big body with extended mouth, a long back fin and a rotund tail. The colours can be from brown to green, depending on age. An adult fish becomes brown with yellow stains and a yellowish lower body.

It mostly dwells alone, among the rocks and in caves about 60 m deep. In shallow water one can find smaller specimens. Their dwelling holes always have two exits so they can be safe inside. It can be found in the Mediteranian, along African coastline and in Brazil. It is an endangered specie.