Scup are deep-bodied and have very spiny fins. The front teeth are incisor-form and are very narrow, almost conical. There are two rows of molars in the upper jaw. Longspine porgy look similar, but can be easily identified by the elongated dorsal spines on their back. Scup are dusky brown with somewhat bright silvery reflections below. The fins are mottled with dark brown in the adults and the young may be faintly barred.