Indo-West Pacific: none have been taken on the African coast, except for the specimen recorded by Randall and Heemstra 1991 from Kenyan coast north of Kilifi Creek. It is an insular species found in most tropical Indo-Pacific islands. Absent in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.

Small but conspicuous triangular white spots on the corners of the brown hexagons of the vertical fins and all of the body except the belly; four to six dark blotches along the dorsal fin base.

Common in exposed outer-reef areas in relatively shallow water. Well-camouflaged grouper, solitary. Feeds mainly on fishes and crustaceans (stomatopods and brachyuran crabs).