Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Bazaruto, Mozambique and east to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to South Korea and southern Japan, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef. Does not occur in the Hawaiian Islands.

Dorsal fin plain and often with wide stripe.

Inhabits shallow rocky areas, often in pools of the intertidal zone. Occurs mostly in coastal areas. Also found in estuaries, tidal zones and often ascending into freshwater streams.