Range: Indo-Pacific Ocean: East Africa to Hawaiian and Marquesas Islands, north to Southern Japan and south to Vanuatu. Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. Body variable from brown to yellow or green mixed with various color shades or spots. Males develop long filaments on the caudal fin. Young with a broad, dark lateral stripe which breaks into dark blotches in adults, the largest above distal pectoral fins. A small dark spot behind eye. Mouth terminal or lower jaw slightly projecting. Caudal fin of terminal males rhomboid, with central rays longest, and dorsalmost caudal-fin ray elongated into a short filament. A small species (reaching about 14 cm). Size: 6 inches (15 cm) Natural Environment: Inhabits outer reef slopes and deep lagoons and found among rubble and algae, and sometimes in seagrass beds and usually found at depths between 6 - 350 feet (3 - 105 m) where it feeds on small fishes and crustaceans/benthic invertebrates.
