Diagnosis: A large, deep-bodied species; mature males develop enlarged jaws and a concave head profile (Ref. 2, 118638). Other distinguishing characters of this species include: vertebrae 29-30; dorsal spines XV-XVIII, total dorsal rays 27-30, anal spines III; lower gill rakers 19-27; pharyngeal teeth slender, but firm, not crowded, blade of lower bone 0.9-1.25 times length of dentigerous area; and depth of caudal peduncle greater than its length (Ref. 2). Freshly collected males vary in colour: sometimes with grey head, brownish-golden upper parts, or sometimes with pinkish unpaired fins and upper parts; under stress, or after death, males tend towards uniform black body and fins, with reddish-pink dorsal and tail fin margins; females and immatures vary from light grey to dark brownish background, with dark flank patches and an anal fin with faint vertical bars (Ref. 2, 118638).