Indo-Pacific: Red Sea, Kenya, Mozambique, the Aldabra and Inhaca islands, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, hyposaline waters of Goldie River in New Guinea, Melanesia, south to only New Caledonia; Okinawa, Philippines and Micronesian waters, Palau, east to Hawaiian Islands, Fanning Islands and Samoa.

Bluish in color; lower caudal rays black; in juveniles the black midlateral band extends from tip of snout to caudal fin.

Found on outer reef slopes, hovering above the bottom. They swim often high above the substrate to pick prey from the substrate with their excellent eyesight.