Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef.

Pale to bluish gray in color; pectoral fin base with a narrow, pale blue-edged, black band; postorbital head with irregular, pale to iridescent blue bands and spots. Chin with a median, fleshy protuberance narrowing to a thin fold. Scales embedded, close-set, non imbricate (except on posterior part). 1st dorsal fin lower than 2nd; 2nd dorsal and anal fins elevated anteriorly. Closely resembles P. heteropterus but lacks the blue mark on the tail.

Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs, over rubble and sand bottoms. Found from shallow silty estuaries and inlets to outer reef lagoons to about 10 meters depth, but may also be seen deep on coastal slopes to 25 meters depth. Occur in pairs occupying the same burrow, but at times more than 2 individuals will retreat to the same refuge (particularly true for juveniles).