Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 180 m , usually 10 - 70 m . Tropical; 31°N - 33°S, 31°E - 128°W

Maturity: Lm 42.9, range 39 - ? cm Max length : 90.0 cm TL male/unsexed; ; common length : 76.0 cm SL male/unsexed; ; max. published weight: 12.5 kg ; max. reported age: 55 years

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: moderately deep body, its greatest depth 2.4-2.9 in SL; distinct groove or pit from nostrils to the front of the eye; preopercular notch and knob moderately developed; vomerine tooth patch narrow crescentic, without a medial posterior extension; gill rakers of first gill arch 6-7 + 16 = 22-23 (including rudiments). Colour of body dark reddish-brown with faint dark stripes; young and some adults with two silvery-white spots on back; pectoral fins pink with dorsal edge prominently black; juveniles sometimes have caudal end of body and the tail white. mimicking Chromis damselfishes ( Ref. 9821, 90102).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal;  Cross section: oval.