Indo-Pacific: Christmas Island to French Polynesia, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to Tonga; throughout Micronesia.

Vomerine teeth are biserial and diverging anteriorly with the posteriormost 3 to 4 teeth forming a single row.

Fairly common inhabitant of reef flats where it is usually encountered in shallow tidal pools. Often in shipwrecks; usually in pairs or small aggregations, and shares habitat with other morays.