Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific: East Africa to the Galapagos, Cocos, and Clipperton islands, north to the Hawaiian and Ryukyu islands, south to Australia and the Kermadec Islands.

Greyish and speckled with irregular, dark markings. Young yellowish with hollow-centered spots which becomes less conspicuous with age. Lacks the molariform teeth as well as the depressible vomerine fangs present in most Gymnothorax and have two rows of vomerine teeth.

Inhabits reef flats and rocky intertidal shorelines. Feeds on small fishes and crustaceans, sometimes leaving the water in pursuit of prey.