It is red brown in colour and has a pronounced chin barbel.

It is usually found in small shoals at depths between 10 and 300 feet (3 and 91 m) over muddy or sandy bottoms.

They are often regarded as a mini species and are commonly confused with pouting as they have a similar appearance.

They feed on crustaceans, small fish and marine worm.

It is commercially harvested for the production of fish meal, and in southern Europe as food.