Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 35 m . Tropical; 31°N - 35°S, 20°E - 134°W

Maturity: Lm 19.1, range 12 - ? cm Max length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; ; common length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; ; max. reported age: 23 years

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body moderately deep; greatest depth 2.6-2.9 in SL; preopercular notch and knob poorly developed; vomerine tooth patch triangular or diamond-shaped, with a medial posterior extension; gill rakers of first gill arch 6-7 + 9-12 (including rudiments) = 16-19; caudal fin truncate to slightly emarginate; scale rows on back rising obliquely above lateral line. Colour of back and upper sides brown, lower sides whitish or light brown and belly whitish to yellow, usually a series of 6-7 yellow stripes on the sides and a prominent black spot at level of lateral line, below base of anterior part of soft portion of dorsal fin ( Ref. 9821, 90102).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal;  Cross section: oval.