Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef.

Body grey with fine pale barring. Young with 25-30 dark brown bars separated by white narrow interspaces; bars become obscure with age where in large adults, the pattern becomes mottled brown; corner of mouth dark brown. Head usually lighter, yellowish with variable dark blotching. 132-137 vertebrae.

Inhabits reef flats, clear shallow lagoons, and seaward reefs. Benthic. Feeds mainly on small crustaceans during both day and night.