It is not clear what species Poey was describing as he may have based his description on a painting with am ambiguous subject.

[1] Lutjanus purpureus has a moderately deep, compressed body[4] with a relatively short head which has a rounded dorsal profile.

The vomerine teeth are arranged in a chevron or crescent shaped patch with a short rearwards extension.

Juveniles have with a round black spot on the upper flanks underneath the front of the soft rayed part of the dorsal fin, as the fish grows this fades and eventually disappears.

[4] Lutjanus purpureus is predatory, its diet mostly comprises fishes, shrimps, crabs, cephalopods and zooplankton.

[6] Lutjanus purpureus is not of great importance to commercial fisheries despite being regarded as a good quality food fish.