Body oblong and strongly compressed. First dorsal fin with two spines; the second spine reduced and embeded in skin. A very small encasing scale on posterior part of pelvis. Head larger than caudal fin. Upper jaw teeth arranged in two rows; the outer series with 6 teeth, the inner with 4 teeth. Lower jaw with 6 teeth arranged in a single row. Scales on body very small. Caudal peduncle long, longer than deep. Body gray with irregular dark blotches.
Distribution:
Warm and tropical regions of the world.
Remarks:
This species is separable from other species of Aluterus by the higher numbers of soft dorsal and anal fin rays and by the elongated caudal peduncle. (Matsuura)