[4] The flame hawkfish has a very deep, highly compressed body, its standard length being two to two and a half times its depth with a moderately long snout.

[6] This species is bright red with areas of black around eyes and beneath the dorsal fin.

[1] It is a common species on reef fronts with exposure to tidal surge and on underwater terraces.

The preferred species are Stylophora mordax, Pocillopora elegans, P. eydouxi, or P. verrucosa and it flees deep into the coral if approached.

[6] The adults do not have a swim bladder and use their robust pelvic fins as supports when perching on corals.