Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 50 m . Tropical; 31°N - 19°S, 75°E - 142°E

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm Max length : 35.0 cm TL male/unsexed; ; common length : 25.0 cm SL male/unsexed;

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body moderately deep, its depth 2.6-3.1 in SL; preopercular notch and knob poorly developed; vomerine tooth patch crescentic, without a medial posterior extension; tongue with a patch of granular teeth; gill rakers of first gill arch 6 + 8-10 = 14-16. Colour generally whitish, with a `checker-board' pattern on upper half of sides, with dark brown bars and stripes, surrounding rectangular, whitish 'windows'; horizontal brown stripes 5-6, 2 on lower half of sides; caudal fin base with large black spot. ( Ref. 9821, 90102)
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal;  Cross section: oval.