Dark olive green dorsally, becoming pale on sides, and silvery ventrally. Back and sides striped longitudinally with green lines and small blue dots. Have an amazing protractile mouth.

Sometimes seen in schools around Otago's offshore reefs, not often caught. Found in large low tidal pools and surge channels. May be found living within soft bodied invertebrates (e.g. salps). Juveniles probably pelagic.

Predator on zooplankton and small fish.

NZ Marine Fishes: Paul