It is found in both marine and brackish or estuarine waters, feeding on smaller fish and possibly crustaceans.

Sinhala name - කටුවල්ලා(katuwalla) Dorab wolf-herring have slender, elongated bodies.

They are commonly about 3–120 centimetres (1.2–47.2 in) in length and weigh 170–1,200 grams (0.37–2.65 lb).

[6] The dorab wolf-herring is found in the Indo-Pacific, probably throughout the warmer coastal waters, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia.

[4] The dorab wolf-herring is a commercial species which is sold fresh, dried, salted or frozen.