Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 20 m . Tropical; 36°N - 35°S, 25°E - 174°W

Maturity: Lm ?, range 22 - ? cm Max length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; ; common length : 20.0 cm SL male/unsexed;

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7. Body silvery with 6-8 irregular, faint dusky oblique and vertical bands dorsolaterally and ventrolaterally (usually more apparent in young stressed or preserved specimens. U-shaped premaxilla groove mostly without scales (tiny scales anteriorly in specimens over 13 cm SL). Posterior margin of maxillary beyond a vertical through anterior margin of pupil. Supraneural bones 3. Spinous dorsal fin with an indistinct dusky patch (2nd-6th spines) and very narrow dusky distal margins on upper membranes between spines. Scales between 5th dorsal fin spine and lateral line 3-4, usually 3.5. Pelvic fin when fresh is semi-transparent or dull yellow color with an indistinct dusky band and dull white distal margin posteriorly ; pectoral fins reaches beyond level of anus; caudal fin forked deeply and with long lobes . Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal;  Cross section: compressed.