Circumglobal. Indo-West Pacific: Kenya south to South Africa and east to Mariana and Wake islands in Micronesia, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia and the Kermadec Islands. Absent from the Red Sea and French Polynesia. Likely at Seychelles. Eastern Pacific: USA to Peru, including Galapagos Islands. Western Atlantic: Cape Cod, USA to northern Argentina. Distribution in the eastern Atlantic is not well established. Recently recorded from Lampedusa Island in the Mediterranean.

Body elongated, moderately deep, and slightly compressed; supra-maxillary very wide; lower branch of first gill arch with 15 to 18 gill rakers in individuals greater than 20cm standard length; anterior lobe of second dorsal fin deep; caudal peduncle with dorsal and ventral fossae; lateral line forming a dermal keel on the caudal peduncle; color highly variable when fresh; back brown, olive, or blue green; flanks and belly paler; nape with a dark vertical bar and a dark line extending back from the eye in adults. Olivaceous to bluish green above, lighter below and occasionally with brassy or lavender reflections; adults with dark nuchal bar; midside of body with faint amber stripe; fins dark except for the pelvic fins which are white ventrally.

Found in outer reef slopes and offshore banks to 160 m or more. Form small groups.