Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; amphidromous ; depth range 10 - 49 m . Subtropical; 32°N - 26°S, 32°E - 160°W

Maturity: Lm ?, range 25 - ? cm Max length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; ; common length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed;

Dorsal spines (total): 8 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20 - 22; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 17 - 19. Color generally silvery with greenish tinge above. Pectoral fins long and pointed. Similar to D. longimana but differs in having 4 - 11 vertical gray spots on the upper half of the sides, and generally 8 dorsal spines (against none (spots) and generally 9 spines in D. longimana). Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep;  Cross section: compressed.