Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and the east coast of Africa to the Hawaiian Islands and Samoa, north to Japan, south to the Arafura Sea and northern Australia.

Body color olive dorsally, shading to white ventrally; black spot on opercle; dorsal and caudal fins dusky greenish yellow in color. The adipose eyelid completely covering the eye except for a vertical slit centered on pupil.

Inhabit mangroves and coastal bays. Form schools.