Indo-West Pacific: India, Indochina and Malay Archipelago, and northern Australia to Japan.

Body is yellow or tan with dusky brown speckling; first dorsal fin dark brown with white posterior margin.

Forms small schools in estuaries and sheltered bays with soft-bottom habitat to depths of 25 m. Usually seen among sponges, crinoids, or Diadema urchins in weedy areas.