Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Ducie Island, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia. Eastern Central Pacific: Mexico to Panama. Hybrid with Caranx sexfasciatus found in Hawaii.

Head and body color brassy; median fins electric blue; fins of juveniles and the young pale to dusky, except yellow pectorals. 27-42 strong scutes. Breast fully scaled. Pectoral fins falcate. 2 spines detached from anal fin.

A coastal and oceanic species, associated with reefs. Juvenile occurs seasonally in shallow sandy inshore waters. Found in rivers. Pelagic. Occasionally in schools. Feeds mainly on other fishes.