Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa, including the Mascarene Islands to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island.

Almost fusiform, body grayish to greenish brown, paler below. Two weak immovable bucklers on each side of caudal peduncle. Without horn; short groove in front of eye. Yellowish brown preopercular margin. Over 25 cm with black tongue. Skin granulated or velvety. Teeth small and slender, close-set and pointed. Caudal fin emarginate in young.

Inhabits clear lagoon and seaward reef slopes. Benthopelagic. Forms shoals. Mainly diurnal, it feeds on zooplankton such as crab larvae, arrow worms, pelagic tunicates, and occasionally filamentous red algae. The species is never poisonous.