Body oval, deep, strongly compressed. Head length about equal to head height; preopercle smooth, without prominent spines. Snout short. Small protractile mouth with brush-like teeth in the jaws. Dorsal fin with XII spines, no notch between spinous and soft dorsal fin; and 22 to 28 soft rays; anal fin with III spines and 20 to 22 soft rays; pectoral fins transparent with 15 to 17 soft rays; pelvic fins with I stout spine and 5 branched rays; caudal fin rounded. Series of yellow dots, running at diagonal lines over the sides; a black band extending from caudal peduncle along bases of dorsal and anal fins.
habitats
Inhabit coastal reefs at depths of 10 to 50 m, primarily on rubble slopes. Oviparous. Adults usually swim in pairs in search of small benthic invertebrates.
Distribution
Distributed throughout the Indo-Malayan region and western New Guinea, northward to the Ryukyu Islands. It is found in southern Taiwanese waters.