Its body is elongate and very compressed laterally, the head is flattened, with a steep profile and sharp teeth.

This wrasse has a yellow-orange or reddish-pink color that is darker on the back and lighter on the belly, sometimes marked with green and gray stripes.

Head shows vertical narrow light blue lines and there are scales with brisk reflexes on the abdomen.

[2] The pearly razorfish is widespread throughout the western and eastern subtropical and tropical Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Mediterranean Sea.

[2] A large number of specific names have been determined to refer to this species as junior synonyms:[2]