The yellowstripe trevally is distributed throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific region, ranging from the Persian Gulf in the west to Vanuatu and New Caledonia in the east.

The species reaches sexual maturity at around 8–13 cm, with spawning in India shown to occur in two peak periods from January to April and July to October.

The yellowstripe scad is the only member of the monotypic genus Selaroides, one of around thirty genera in the jack and horse mackerel family Carangidae, which in turn is part of the order Carangiformes.

[2] The yellowstripe scad was first scientifically described by the famed French naturalist Georges Cuvier in 1833 based on the holotype specimen taken from the waters of Java, Indonesia.

[3] In 1851 the Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker re-examined the species and concluded it warranted placement in its own genus, which he named Selaroides meaning 'like Selar' in reference to the similarity between these fishes.

[8] The yellowstripe scad has been included in several phylogenetic analyses of the Carangidae, with each study suggesting slightly different relationships.

All studies confirmed its placement in the subfamily Caranginae, a monophyletic grouping including the trevallies, jacks, scads and horse mackerels.

[9] A 1987 analysis of genetic divergence amongst the scads and horse mackerels using isozyme electrophoresis indicated the species was most closely related to Selar, forming a monophyletic clade with Trachurus, but being more distant from Decapterus.

[10] Two studies in 2002 and 2007 of mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences generally agreed that Selaroides was most closely related to Selar (depending on analysis type), however both indicated a closer relationship to the deeper bodied genera such as Caranx and Hemicaranx than to the scads of Trachurus and Decapterus.

The pectoral fin is falcate and doesn't reach the junction of the curved and straight sections of the lateral line.

[13] The yellowstripe scad is a metallic blue to blue-green colour above grading to a silvery white below with a characteristic broad yellow stripe extending from the upper margin of the eye to the caudal peduncle.

[8] The yellowstripe scad is predominantly an inshore species, and occurs in large demersal schools over soft substrates.

The yellowstripe scad is a predatory fish, taking a variety of crustaceans and other small prey items, with its exact diet varying both spatially and temporally.

Small fishes of the genus Anchoviella, pteropods, algal material, diatoms, molluscan larvae and foramanifera make up a lesser part of the diet here also.

Unlike most species however, the yellowstripe scad travels ahead of the umbrella, only moving in advanced jerks in rhythm with the jellyfish.

[31] Locally yellowstripe scad make up a high percentage of the catch; in an Indian example, it accounted for up to 36% of total landings in one survey.

[37][38] The yellowtail scad has also been part of trials into use as fish powder, with a high protein content considered to make the species a candidate.

[35] In Singapore and Malaysia, the yellowtail scad (known locally as ikan kuning) is often deep-fried until crispy and served with nasi lemak.