[2] They are white with vertical thin black lines down the body and two dark saddles on the fore and hind back, which softly grade into the background colour caudal gradient.

Immediately after the hind quarter saddle, the body and tail is bright yellow swith a black spot on the caudal peduncle.

The vertical lines are present in all of these, while a white body with yellow behind and black on back and caudal peduncle are only shared among the four less ancient species.

It is not a territorial species that freely grazes throughout a wide range within reefs, lagoons and harbors, and every now and then large groups congregate at rich feeding spots.

It is rarely ever observed in a deep reef environment or the open sea; juveniles are typically reared in shallow lagoons, estuaries or harbors.