Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and the east African coast (30° to about 50°S) to Australia and Tahiti, north to the Ryukyu Islands.

Body silvery; anterior part of anal fin yellow; dorsal, pectoral and pelvic fins colorless. Scales minute. Head and breast scaleless. Nuchal spine on nape. Mouth pointing forward when protracted.

Searches for prey using a protruding pipette-like mouth or by sieving potential food through their gill rakers. Feeds on small fishes, shrimps, other crustaceans, and polychaetes. Sold fresh and dried salted; also made into fishmeal.