Western Indian Ocean: Park Rynie, South Africa. Western Pacific: southern Japan, Ryukyu Islands, China, Philippines, Palau, Indonesia, New Guinea, New Britain, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji Islands, and northern Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

Fish has similar body shape as C. alpha, but entirely yellow. Has either white or yellow fins in Indonesia, depending on the region and both forms occur in Bali. In Japan the sub-tropical form has yellow ventrals and a white tail, also grows much larger.

Usually inhabits steep outer reef slopes and rocky bottoms. Found singly or in small groups