Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Marshall Islands and Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to Australia.

Color generally silvery, paler below; large adults mostly golden orange, especially ventrally. Dorsal snout profile very steep; soft dorsal and anal fin lobes greatly elevated.

Juveniles inhabit sandy shorelines and shallow sandy or muddy bays near river mouths while adults move out in schools to clear seaward reefs. Found near coral and rock reefs. Juveniles in small schools, while adults are usually solitary. Feeds primarily on sand mollusks and other hard-shelled invertebrates.