Indo-Pacific: Chagos Islands and Reunion, to Panama, north to Marcus and the Hawaiian Islands, south to Tonga and Mangaréva.

Each posterior nostril which is located in front of, and above the eye, is large and surrounded by a fleshy rim, and each anterior nostril bears a bilobed fleshy protuberance which is absent in species of Enchelycore.

Inhabits areas with strong surge such as benches, outer reef flats and reef fronts. Benthic. Very secretive during the day; feeds on fishes and octopi at night.