Body elongate, subcylindrical, depth less than 30% of standard length, abdomenrounded; abdomen keeled with prepelvic and postpelvic scutes ; total number of scutes 32 to 35. Lower gill rakers on first gill arch 77 to 188. Pelvic fins with i unbranched and 8 branched soft rays. Vertical striae on scales discontinuous not meeting at centre, without small perforations on posterior part of scale. Body no dark spot at dorsal-fin origin; a faint golden spot behind gill opening, followed by a faint golden midlateral line; also with a distinct black spot at posterior border of gill cover.
habitats
Forms large schools in coastal waters, particularly in the Bali Strait upwelling. Found in sheltered bays and lagoons. Feeds on phytoplankton and zooplankton, chiefly copepods.
Distribution
Distributed in Indo-West Pacific from Phuket, Thailand, southern coasts of Java and Bali to Western Australia, north to the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and southern Japan. It is common in waters around Taiwan.
Utility
Marketed fresh, dried, dried-salted, as bait, or made into fish meals.