Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and South Africa, including the Persian Gulf, Madagascar and Mauritius eastward to Hong Kong, the Arafura Sea, northern and eastern coasts of Australia and further east to Samoa and Tahiti.

Belly with 2 to 6 small needle-like pre-pelvic scutes. Maxilla tip pointed, reaching to or only just beyond front border of pre-operculum; hind border of pre-operculum convex, rounded. Isthmus muscle tapering evenly forward to hind border of branchial membrane. Body light transparent fleshy brown, with silver stripe down flank; no dark pigment lines on back between head and dorsal fin.

A schooling species occurring in coastal waters and which appears to enter at least the estuarine parts of rivers and to tolerate brackish water. Feeds most likely on zooplankton, but more data needed. In Manila Bay, the Philippines, it migrates out into deeper and more saline water to spawn, returning inshore immediately thereafter. Processed into nuoc-man (fish pickle) in Indo-China.