Indo-Pacific: East Africa (including the Mascarene Islands) to the Hawaiian and Line islands, north to southern Japan, south to Rowley Shoals, southern Great Barrier Reef and Lord Howe Island. Absent from most of central Pacific.

Pale brown body; broader, irregular lines on head; orange band between eyes, continued behind each eye to gill cover. Each side of caudal peduncle with single, sharp, forward-pointing erectile spine; spine largely covered by cream sheath; groove surrounded by a black area. Dorsal fin with soft part having longer base than spinous part. Minute scales. Gill rakers 22-26 in anterior row, 23-27 in posterior row.

Schooling species, usually occurring in seaward reefs at depths greater than 9 m. Adults mainly on deep coastal reef slopes and outer reef walls, often on deep shipwrecks.