Indo-Pacific: East Africato Fiji, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to New Zealand.

Color silvery, greenish above. Opercle with black spot. 20-37 weak scutes. Pectoral fins falcate. Scaleless breast to behind pelvic origin and laterally to pectoral base. Soft dorsal lobe falcate in young, becoming shorter than head in adults. First 2 anal spines detached.

Inhabits open waters of coastal reefs. Juveniles occur in inshore areas, including estuaries. Usually in small groups.