Indo-West Pacific: east Africa and Seychelles to the Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia.

Lower edge of eye is intersected by line from snout tip to the middle of the caudal fin fork. Eye diameter usually about equal to the length of the snout. The interorbital space is convex and about equal to eye diameter. The inner surface of the pectoral fin axil is scaleless. Overall color is silver, sometimes slightly brown dorsally, with about eight transverse brown bars on the sides, the first crossing through the eye, the remainder below the dorsal fin and across the caudal peduncle. Scattered blotches and speckling is sometimes evident on sides. Fins are clear to yellow-orange with caudal margins and tips often deep red.

Inhabits sandy or low-relief rocky bottoms.