Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line Islands, north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia.

Color is olivaceous to bluish gray, the scale edges dark brown. The edges of the opercle and preopercle are dark brown. The tips of the caudal fin lobes are black. A black spot is at the upper base and axil of the pectoral fins.

Occurs singly or in small to large aggregations in passes and steep outer reef slopes.