A robust scarlet-red fish with a prominent white saddle on its back, a white bar on the gill cover, and a blue line between the eyes. Conspicuous canines and several rows of molars in both upper and lower jaws.

It gets as big as 50 cm and 4 kg, though large fish are not so common. The Roman is a predator and occurs on rocky reefs down to 100 m. They undergo sex reversal from female to male at about 30 cm. Spawns in summer, and juveniles frequent shallow reefs. Sought after by ski-boat fishermen, commercial line-boats and spear-fishermen.