Pacific Ocean: Christmas Island and Rowley Shoals in the eastern Indian Ocean to the Tuamoto Islands, north to the Philippines, south to the northern Great Barrier Reef and Loyalty Islands.

Young and females with series of red blotches over the back below the soft part of the dorsal fin, followed by a red streak onto the tail.

Usually in small groups on drop-offs from 30 to 60 m or in the vicinity of caves or ledges of steep outer reef slopes.