Color olive-green dorsally, sides silvery shading to white ventrally; lateral stripes sometimes distinctive. Lips thin. Pectoral fins short (when folded forward does not reach eye). Well developed adipose eyelid.

Coastal species that often enter estuaries and rivers. Usually in schools over sand or mud bottom, between 0 and 10 m, occurring equally in tropical, subtropical and temperate waters.

Mainly diurnal, feed on zooplankton as larvae, detritus, micro-algae and benthic organisms as juvenile and adult fish.

Reproduction takes place in the sea, at various times of the year depending on the location. Does not have an obligatory freshwater phase in its life cycle. Females spawn 0.8 to 2.6 million eggs. Sexually mature at 3 to 4 years. Will ascend rivers until they reach pure fresh water. Overseas these fish pack polluted boat harbours eating the waste products from the boats.

Harrison, I.J., 1995. Mugilidae. Lisas. p. 1293-1298. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome.