Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Japan and Australia. Southeast Atlantic: southeast coast of South Africa.

Color bluish grey to black dorsally, white to dusky below; 5-7 dark oblique bands or blotches on young disappear with age. Posterior spines of dorsal fin minute or embedded in large adults; first anal spine usually embedded. Gill rakers are mostly rudiments. Grooves of caudal peduncle present dorsally and ventrally. Maxilla reaching below rear margin of the eyes.

Mainly in offshore reefs on the continental shelf, on rocky bottoms. Non-schooling. Juveniles under weed rafts and adults are sometimes seen with the large planktivores such as whale sharks. Feeds on demersal fishes, cephalopods, and shrimp.