Pacific Ocean: Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean to the Line Islands, north to the Yaeyama Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef, Fiji and Samoa. Replaced by Pseudanthias ignitus in the Indian Ocean.

Male displays a bright red dorsal fin. Ventral fins greatly extended. Female orange with yellowish tail and a pink line from the tip of the snout angling down, passing through the lower part of the eye.

Found at the upper-edge of steep outer reef slopes.