Western Pacific: Thailand (Phuket), China, Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, Timor Sea (Ashmore Reef), Western Australia, Great Barrier Reef, New Britain and Solomon Islands.

Juveniles are yellow-orange postero-ventrally and brown antero-dorsally with numerous blue line and spots on the face and on the back.

Occurs in protected lagoon and coastal reefs around branching corals, usually with lots of algae on coral bases on the substrate.