it has a silver-grey colouration with short, irregular brown or greenish-brown lines on the upper sides. Adult fishes have a dark caudal (tail) fin margin. It grows to about 65 cm in length.

It lives in coastal waters down to depts of around 60 m. It is most often observed swimming over sand near rocky reefs.

Predator. It feeds on invertebrates such as crabs, small sea urchins, worms and shellfish.

Adults make an annual migration to spawn near East Cape. Often occur in schools with blue moki. Mature at about 5 years of age at which time they move out of shallow coastal waters. Relatively uncommon.