Marine; brackish; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 20 m . Tropical; 32°N - 32°S, 31°E - 155°W

Maturity: Lm 19.5  range ? - 21.1 cm Max length : 54.9 cm FL male/unsexed; ; common length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; ; max. published weight: 2.9 kg ; max. reported age: 15 years

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body moderately deep, its depth 2.6-2.8 times in standard length; head length 0.9-1 times in body depth, 2.7-3.1 times in SL length, dorsal profile near eye distinctly or slightly convex; snout short and blunt, its length about 2.0-2.6 times in HL, measured without the lip the snout is 0.9-1 times in cheek height, its dorsal profile nearly straight, snout angle relative to upper jaw between 60° and 70°; interorbital space convex or almost flat; posterior nostril a narrow longitudinal slit, closer to orbit than anterior nostril; eye situated close to dorsal profile, its length 3.4-4.2 times in HL; cheek not very high, its height 2.3-3.1 times in HL; lateral teeth in jaws of adults molars or rounded; outer surface of maxilla smooth or with a longitudinal ridge; D X,9 the 4th or 5th dorsal-fin spine the longest, its length 2.5-3.1 times in body depth; A III,8 with the first soft ray usually the longest, its length almost equal to or longer or shorter than length of base of soft-rayed portion of anal fin and 1.2-1.6 times in length of entire anal-fin base; pectoral-fin rays 13; pelvic-fin membranes between rays closest to body without dense melanophores; cheek without scales; 46-47 lateral-line scales usually; usually 5 ½ (sometimes 4 ½) scale rows between lateral line and base of middle dorsal-fin spines; 14-16 scale rows in transverse series between origin of anal fin and lateral line; 13-14 rows in lower series of scales around caudal peduncle; 4-8 scales in supratemporal patch; inner surface of pectoral-fin base densely covered with scales; posterior angle of operculum fully scaly. Colour of body olive or grey above, shading to silvery white below; a large elliptical black spot, often broadly edged in yellow, on side directly below lateral line and centered at a vertical near the posterior tip of pectoral fins; sometimes light blue dots bordering lower rim of eye and around nostrils; pectoral, pelvic, dorsal, and anal fins white to pinkish; caudal fin orange or reddish; vertical fins sometimes lightly mottled or striped . Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal;  Cross section: oval.