Body very deep, and compressed. Snout blunt, forehead arched slightly. Eye small, central, slightly shorter than snout. Mouth small, subterminal, curved downward posteriorly; barely reaching beyond anterior margin of eye. Operculum absent; gill opening reduced to a vertical slit on the side of the body; gill membrane broadly united to isthmus. Dorsal and anal fins subequal in size, originating at or behind level of pectoral-fin bases, quite stiff but never produced into a falcate lobe anteriorly; no spines before fins; dorsal-fin rays 41 to 46; anal-fin rays 39 to 42; pelvic fins absent. caudal fin deeply broad, weakly forked, lower lobe not extended. Greyish to brownish dorsally, silvery white on sides; covered in dark pigment spots; fins silvery to greyish, darkest distally.
habitats
Occurs seasonally singly or in small schools over muddy bottoms; may enter estuaries. Feeds on ctenophores, salps, medusae, and other zooplankton groups but will also prey on small benthic animals.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific from the Persian Gulf to eastern Indonesia and northward to Japan. It is found in western and northern Taiwanese waters, and Penghu Is..
Euphrasen, B. A. 1788 
