Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and east coast of Africa (except Kenya), including Madagascar to the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and further east to southeast Asia and Australia. Does not appear to occur in the central or eastern Pacific.

Body is cigar-shaped, rounded or slightly compressed; the head pointed and depressed; the snout broader than long. Color is generally brown above and silver below; the back with faint cross bands. The tips of the dorsal and pectorals and the lower caudal lobe blackish.

Found on muddy bottoms and trawling grounds.