Indo-West Pacific: Mozambique and Maldives to the western Pacific.

Body brown; a round black spot at upper gill opening; dark blue line just below the bases of dorsal and anal fins. Dorsal fin with soft part having longer base than spinous part. Minute scales. Gill rakers in anterior row 19-23, posterior 22-24. A dark brown area surrounding the caudal spine. Large males develop highly convex foreheads that extend beyond the mouth.

Occurs in clear seaward reef slopes, below 15 m, usually below 30 m. Adults mainly on deep coastal reef slopes and outer reef walls.