Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Japan, the Arafura Sea and Australia. A Lessepsian migrant.

Lateral line curved below soft dorsal and with 30-44 strong scutes; color bluish green above, silvery below; caudal fin hyaline to yellowish; dorsal fins hyaline basally, light dusky distally. Opercle with small, black spot; opercular membrane with smooth margin. Snout longer than eye diameter; squarish lower posterior edge of maxilla; upper jaw with small teeth anteriorly; soft dorsal and anal fins relatively low, not falcate; pectoral fin sub falcate.

Dwells from middle to benthic , forming large schools in deep water, but occasionally inshore in sheltered bays in small to large groups. The most common Decapterus in coastal waters and on open banks of the Indian Ocean. Feeds mainly on smaller planktonic invertebrates. Generally marketed fresh, may be dried or salted.