Silvery blue, black tip on the tail lobes, row of black dashes on an arching lateral line (juveniles have a yellow tail with black tips).

Common.

Red Sea, Persian Gulf and East Africa to the Solomon islands, Northern Japan to Micronesia and Australia. Found in coastal areas, mainly on or near coral reefs. More common along steep seaward reefs than in lagoons. Forms aggregations in midwater. Found in depths down to 50 meters.

Oviparous breeding, with large numbers of pelagic eggs.