Indo-Pacific: East Africa to eastern Oceania, including the Hawaiian and Easter islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia and the Kermadec Islands.

Variable body color, pale gray and various shades of brown from tan to nearly blackish (geographic varieties); each scale with blackish streak near margin appearing as narrow transverse bands. Usually bright yellow iris (except the Indonesian Pacific form); a bluish band across preorbital bone from lower front corner of eye to mouth; pale gray to whitish lips. Spinous part of dorsal fin with translucent submarginal band; median and pelvic fins gray to brown, except the Indian Ocean variety; pectoral fins nearly translucent to dusky brown, black spot at base of uppermost ray. Juveniles usually have blue-bordered dorsal and anal fins.

Inhabits rocky and coral reefs exposed to mild to moderate surge.