Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Fiji, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia.

Dorsal profile of head steeply sloped. Preorbital width equal to eye diameter or larger. Preopercular notch and knob poorly developed. Scale rows on back parallel to lateral line. Center of each scale often with a reddish-brown spot, giving an overall appearance of series of horizontal lines on side of body. Generally yellow with a bronze to silvery sheen, shading to silvery white on belly and underside of the head. A large black blotch mainly above the lateral line below the anterior dorsal-fin rays.

Adults probably frequent coral reef areas; juveniles found in mangrove estuaries.