Marine; reef-associated; oceanodromous ; depth range 0 - 13 m . Tropical; 26°C - 29°C ; 21°N - 1°N

Maturity: Lm 51.7, range 50 - 55 cm Max length : 150 cm TL male/unsexed; ; common length : 90.0 cm SL male/unsexed; ; max. published weight: 6.4 kg

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21 - 24; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 19 - 22; Vertebrae: 75 - 80. This species with is distinguished by the following characters: body elongate, circular in cross-section; D 21-24 with anterior rays forming a relatively high lobe, 5.4-10.6 body length (excluding the head and caudal fin); dorsal fin origin about equal with or slightly in front to anal fin origin; A 19-22 with anterior rays forming a relatively high lobe, in 5.5-8.0 in BL; pectoral-fin rays 13 to 15 (usually 14 or 15); 270-340 predorsal scales; 75-80 vertebrae; jaws extremely long, forming a stout beak armed with very sharp teeth; no gill rakers absent; caudal fin deeply emarginate, the lower lobe much longer than the upper one and the caudal peduncle with a distinct, black lateral keel; body colour dark bluish green above, silvery below; juveniles (to 20 cm body length) with elevated black lobe in posterior part of dorsal fin which is lost with growth; scales and bones green ( Ref. 9682, 90102).