Indo-West Pacific: Sri Lanka to the Marshall and Solomon islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to northern Australia.

Body is brown or tan, with scattered irregular small black blotches, a large oblong black blotch below soft-rayed portion of dorsal fin and bordering below the lateral line. The fins are pale or pinkish.

Inhabits shallow seagrass beds, reef flats, lagoons, and sandy areas near coral reefs. Feeds on benthic invertebrates and small fish. Also caught with beach seines and handlines and is marketed fresh.