Indo-West Pacific: East Africa (no verified records from the Red Sea) to Malaysia, Indonesia and the Arafura Sea. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands.

Body slender, elongate, and somewhat circular in cross section; posterior end of upper jaw concave dorsally and with a rounded protrusion ventrally; edge of shoulder girdle (cleithrum) with two small papillae, the lower one larger; dorsal and anal fin each followed by a separate finlet. Color metallic blue dorsally, silvery ventrally; fins hyaline; opercle with a small black spot. 24-40 scutes. Very slender compared to similar species.

Occasionally seen in small groups along reef slopes adjacent to deep water in pursuit of zooplankton.