Western Indian Ocean: known with certainty from the Red Sea and the northwestern Indian Ocean. A closely related form occurs in the Philippines and Gulf of Thailand. The wider distribution usually given for this species stems from misidentifications of similar species overlapping its range. Also reported from Australia, Polynesia and Japan and rarely in the Mekong delta.

A marine species often found in estuaries, but rarely enters freshwater. Typically euryhaline.

Reported to occasionally ascend into fresh water. Recorded at temperatures ranging from 26-29°C. Feeds mainly on crabs, prawns, mantis shrimps (Squilla species) but also on fishes and mollusks. An important food fish. Marketed mostly fresh; often dried.