Western Pacific: Yaeyama Islands, Japan to Singapore and the southern Great Barrier Reef; Palau and Truk in Micronesia.

Predorsal scales absent. Occurs in two color phases, one yellow and the other with whitish ground color; both forms with 4-5 dusky bars (although faint in yellow fish) and fine pale blue or white spotting on head and anterodorsal part of body and fins. A dark brown streak above maxilla.

Inhabits sandy areas of shallow lagoons and protected coastal bays. Lives in a burrow with alpheid shrimps. Found in clear coastal sand slopes and lagoons, usually in depth of 10-25 meters