Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 100 m , usually 5 - 30 m . Tropical; 35°N - 30°S, 32°E - 122°W

Maturity: Lm 30.3, range 18 - ? cm Max length : 60.0 cm TL male/unsexed; ; common length : 40.0 cm TL male/unsexed; ; max. published weight: 5.9 kg

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body oblong, greatest body depth of adults about 2.2 in SL; head profile strongly convex in front of eye, the snout sloping steeply; eye large 2.7 (juveniles) to 3.8 (adults) in HL; inner surface of the pectoral fin base is densely scaled; pectoral rays usually 14; caudal fin forked with pointed tips; lateral line scales 44-47; scale rows above lateral line (to base of middle dorsal spines) 5, below (to origin of anal fin) 13.5; side of jaw with row of 5-7 molariform teeth. Color of adult silvery grey with narrow dark scale margins, lips yellowish, a large black blotch covering pectoral fin axil, quick to assume pattern of 4 broad, blackish bars on body, the pale interspaces covering 3-4 scale rows; juveniles with black bar through eye, body with 3 dark brown to blackish bars with the 2 posterior bars extending onto the dorsal fin, and each lobe of caudal fin with an orange band ( Ref. 2295, 90102). Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal;  Cross section: oval.