Indo-West Pacific: Kenya to southern Mozambique eastward to the western Pacific. Reported from the Arafura Sea. Not reported from oceanic islands in the Indian Ocean, except for Aldabra, Comoros, Madagascar, and the Andaman and Lakshadweep islands. Unknown from the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and from the islands of Micronesia except for Palau. Record from Rodriguez by Heemstra & Randall could not be verified and is probably erroneous.

Brownish to greenish grey with dusky vertical bands over the body. White margins and black sub-margins on the median fins. Preopercle rounded, very finely serrate; no enlarged spines at angle, lower edge fleshy.

Mainly a coastal species. Inhabits silty dead reefs in protected waters.