Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to French Polynesia, north to southern Japan, south to the Arafura Sea and Australia.

Profile of head and nape somewhat angular. Anal fins extremely long and filamentous in young. Vertebrae 10 + 14. Supraoccipital and distal ends of predorsal bones hyperossified and enlarged distally in specimens larger than 25 cm fork length. Pectoral fins falcate, longer than head; pelvic fins elongate in young. Body is superficially naked. Soft dorsal and anal fins almost equal and the anterior rays prolonged into long filaments giving the fish with disheveled appearance. Young specimens with 5 or 6 dull blue stripes running from the back to mid-flank.

Adults found over coral reefs in coastal waters below 60 m.