Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Marquesas and Mangaréva, north to the Hawaiian Islands, south to the Australs.

Golden in color with dark spot around gill opening. May also be variable from brown to bright golden yellow and eye with deep blue color. Has short conical teeth like those of G. fuscomaculatus and G. marshallensis.

Benthic. Lives in holes and crevices of seaward reefs from the surge zone to over 26 m.