Mullus auratus has a moderately elongated, cylindrical body with a steep forehead with its upper jaw extending as far as the eye.

It is a reddish colour on the back and whitish on the belly, there is a reddish stripe along the flank which runs from the snout to the caudal peduncle with between 2 and 5 paler yellowish stripes visible too.

[3] Mullus auratus is a demersal species which is found over coastal mud or silty sand bottoms where it uses its barbels to find benthic invertebrates.

This species is commoner in offshore oceanic, continental shelf waters than it is in coastal habitats.

[1] Mullus auratus is of minor commercial importance and in the Gulf of Mexico it is subjected to a low level of fishing pressure.