Polydactylus sexfilis is a medium-sized species, which attains a maximum total length of 61 centimetres (24 in) and a weight of 3.2 kilograms (7.1 lb).

The front part of the pelvic fin is greyish black with the rest of it being coloured white.

It has been recorded from Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya and a number of other islands in the northern Indian Ocean.

[3] Polydactylus sexfilis is found in shallow water which are less than 50 metres (160 ft) along sandy and rocky coastal beaches, in lagoons and near reef areas near oceanic islands, often where the water is very turbulent.

They reach sexual maturity as males when they attain a fork length of 20–25 centimetres (7.9–9.8 in) and then changing sex to fertile females after an intermediate hermaphrodite stage when they reach a fork length of 30–40 centimetres (12–16 in).

[2] Polydactylus sexfilis is an important species for commercial fisheries in Hawaii where it is also used in aquaculture.