Bluish silver in colour, upper body covered in small grey spots.

Adults are usually demersal on the continental shelf and slope, occasionally occurring at the surface; subadults in surface waters, sometimes entering bays, while juveniles occur offshore. Reported from depths of 27 m to 600 m. They form feeding and spawning aggregations..

Adults mainly eat planktonic tunicates.

Rapid growing living only 4-8 years.

A Treasury of New Zealand Fishes: Graham
Paulin, C., A. Stewart, C. Roberts and P. McMillan, 1989. New Zealand fish: a complete guide. National Museum of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series No. 19. 279 p.