The serranid fish Anthias fucinus is described from 15 specimens collected from steep rocky slopes at depths of 168-198 m in the Hawaiian Islands and 214-237 m at Johnston Island. It is unique among the known species of the genus in lacking vomerine teeth. Other diagnostic characters are 9 soft anal rays (of the Indo-Pacific species of Anthias only A. ventralis has this count); 16 dorsal soft rays; 15 or 16 pectoral rays (all unbranched); lateral line with a distinct angle at anterior end of straight peduncular part, the pored scales 34-36 (only A. boulengeri from the Gulf of Oman has this number of pored scales); membranes of dorsal fin not incised; no prolonged dorsal spine (fourth or fifth spines barely longest); and a distinctive head color pattern of alternating stripes of violet and yellow.