Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 25 m . Tropical; 30°N - 24°S, 107°E - 170°W

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm Max length : 40.0 cm TL male/unsexed;

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9. Males recognized by the blue snout and band behind eye. Eastern form has blue cheek and western form has yellow cheek. Females grey to yellow with dusky saddle over back . Closely resembles S. oviceps and S. scaber. In S. oviceps, the initial phase has fewer, less vertical diagonal dark bars on the back and the terminal phase lacks the light-centered bar between the eye and the pectoral fin base, is darker and less brilliant blue on the upper head and back, and is usually larger. Body shape (shape guide): elongated;  Cross section: compressed.