Indo-Pacific: Sri Lanka to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Rowley Shoals and Lord Howe Island.

This brilliant blue damsel has more yellow ventrally than P. pavo (Ref. 1602). Yellow-orange tail and posterior parts of dorsal and anal fins.

Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs, close to the bottom among rubble beds. Feeds on zooplankton and to a lesser extent on benthic algae. Juveniles often school among soft corals.