Western Pacific: including the Philippines, Gulf of Thailand, Strait of Malacca, Indonesia and northern Australia. Nemipterus bleekeri has been misapplied to this species by some authors.

Suborbital spine absent. Preopercle with 3 transverse scale rows. Pectoral fins long, reaching to beyond level of anus. Pelvic fins moderately long, reaching to between just short of and just beyond level of anus. A line drawn up from posterior edge of suborbital reaching the dorsal profile at about 2 to 7 scale rows before origin of dorsal fin. Upper lobe of caudal fin falcate, tipped with bright yellow. Axillary scale present. Color: Upper body pinkish mauve, silvery white below. Yellow teardrop-shaped bar beneath eye, extending obliquely halfway to suborbital.

Occurs on mud or sand bottoms in depths greater than 50 m.