Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 80 m . Tropical; 20°C - 28°C; 34°N - 34°S, 28°E - 134°W

Maturity: Lm 20.6  range ? - ? cm Max length : 40.0 cm TL male/unsexed; ; common length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; ; max. published weight: 820.00 g ; max. reported age: 34 years

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body with greatest depth 2.3-2.8 in SL; preopercular notch and knob well developed; vomerine tooth patch crescentic, without a medial posterior extension; tongue smooth, without teeth; gill rakers of first gill arch 6-7 + 10-14 = 16-20 (including rudiments); caudal fin slightly emarginate; scale rows on back rising obliquely above lateral line. Colour of back and sides tan, grey to brownish, sides usually with a series of narrow yellow of golden-brown stripes, 1 per scale rows, caudal fin blackish, dorsal and caudal fins with a narrow white border; pectoral, pelvic and anal fins yellowish, and a broad yellow rim around posterior eye ( Ref. 9821, 90102).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal;  Cross section: oval.