Western Pacific: Philippines to Australia (Dampier Islands, off Western Australia to the Capricorn Islands, of the southern Great Barrier Reef); including Palau, New Britain, and the Solomon Islands.

Juveniles dark brown with bright yellow dorsal, anal, pelvic and tail fins. At size about 9 cm, small scattered blue dots appear and yellow on fins begins to recede.

Inhabits shallow protected coastal reefs, in seagrass beds, and in coral-rich areas. Feeds on crustaceans and fishes.