Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Society and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to northeastern Australia. The name Lethrinus kallopterus has long been applied to this species. Lethrinus cinnabarinus Richardson also appears to be synonymous with this species.

The largest species of Lethrinus. Deep body, blunt snout with orange spots, and bright orange rounded fins of adults (straw yellow in the Indian Ocean) are distinctive. The caudal fin is only slightly forked with tips becoming rounded in adults. Body is brown dark gray, with indistinct scattered small dark and light stripes sometimes on lower sides. The head is brown or gray, often with small orange spots on the cheeks in small adults. The Pectoral and Pelvic fins are white to orangish. The dorsal and anal fins are mottled orange and bluish. The caudal fin is often bright orange, especially in sub adults.

Occurs in deep lagoons and channels, outer reef slopes and adjacent soft bottom areas. Solitary in or near ledges or caves by day.