Elongate, shades of green with several white spots along the back, in the terminal phase (TP). In the initial phase (IP) it can be green to yellow, lacking the white spots and sometimes with a black and white mid-lateral stripe. It lives solitary or with several females.

Least concern on the IUCN Red list.

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian and Easter islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island. Inhabit seagrass beds and algal-covered flats, occasionally in lagoon and seaward reefs. Benthopelagic. Juveniles secretive in seagrasses or attached Sargassum; adults usually in small loose aggregations, but occasionally form large schools to spawn. They live in a depth range of 1-30 meters.

Oviparous breeding, they form distinctive pairing during breeding.