Western Pacific: widely distributed throughout the Indo-Malayan Archipelago, from southern Japan, south to the Northwest Shelf of Australia, and east to New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.

Lower lip uninterrupted at symphysis.

Lateral line with anterodorsal series of 43 - 62 (usually 48 - 62) tubed scales extending from gill opening, and a peduncular series of 12 - 14 (usually 18 - 22) tubed scales.