Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Marquesas and Oeno Atoll (Pitcairn Group), north to the Ryukyu and Hawaiian islands, south to New Caledonia and the Austral Islands.

Juveniles are tan with numerous large black spots. Adults have black specks that grade into leopard-like spots behind the head and a black area surrounding the gill opening.

Found in lagoon and seaward reefs. Commonly seen species along deep drop-offs and slopes in Indonesian waters. Benthic. Juveniles more secretive and occur on intertidal reef flats. It feeds primarily on fishes and occasionally on crustaceans. This is the largest Indo-Pacific moray eel, perhaps reaching 3 m in length. Because of its position at the top of the reef's food chain it is often ciguatoxic. Attacks humans when provoked.