[3] The smooth horsefish was first formally described as Blennius torvus in 1772 by the Dutch zoologist Laurens Theodoor Gronow with the type locality given, probably in error, as the Indian Ocean.

[5] The smooth horsefish is a compressed fish with a long continuous dorsal fin that is very high over the head and which contains 20 or 21 spines and between 13 and 15 soft rays.

[1] This is a demersal fish which lives at depths of 10 to 146 m (33 to 479 ft) on rocky reefs and sandy seabeds.

It feeds on benthic invertebrates such as crustaceans, molluscs, sea urchins, brittle stars and worms.

[8] This species is reputed to be rather docile and approachable, even, occasionally, being handled by divers when they have been heard to give off a quiet "tok-tok-tok".