[5] Lutjanus russellii has a moderately deep body to slender, its standard length being 2.6-2.8 times its depth.

[8] Juveniles are white in colour with four brown to blackish longitudinal stripes along the flanks, although these may be interrupted, and a horizontally-elongated black spot or ocellus on the lateral line.

[7] Lutjanus russellii is found mainly in the western Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of Thailand and Sumatra east to Tonga, north to southern Japan and south to Australia.

[1] In Australian waters this species is found from Shark Bay and the offshore reefs in Western Australia, at Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, round the northern and eastern coasts as far south as Wollongong and maybe to Jervis Bay in New South Wales.

[8] Lutjanus russellii is a target species for artisanal fisheries and is frequently sold in fish markets wherever it occurs.