[1] The adults are patterned with dark brown spots which cover the head, back, flanks and fins.

They have a dark brown to blackish dorsal fin which has large black spots and a central longitudinal grey stripe which is on the membranes but not the spines or rays, at the base of the pectoral and pelvic fins there is a patch of bright red in some individuals.

The inside of the mouth, the rear margin of the maxilla and the gill membranes are scarlet to reddish-brown.

[1] They hide in their shelters during the day and forage at night, they will also eat smaller fishes.

It has been suggested that the use of the specific name picus is an error as the word pica is a noun, not an adjective and should not change gender to match that of the new genus name.