Pentapodus vitta was first formally described in 1824 by Jean René Constant Quoy and Joseph Paul Gaimard with its type locality given as Shark Bay in Western Australia.

[4] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the genus Pentapodus within the family Nemipteridae which it places in the order Spariformes.

[2] Pentapodus vitta is found in the eastern Indian Ocean off the coast of Western Australia where it ranges from the Dampier Archipelago to King George Sound.

[1] Pentapodus vitta is a generalist predator, preying on benthic invertebrates and smaller fishes.

This species has separate sexes and each individual will take part in spawning multiple times in the season.