Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and Transkei, South Africa to the Hawaiian and Marquesan islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia.

Large individuals; body dark yellow-brown numerous, smaller than pupil-sized spots that become small and numerous anteriorly, but large and widely spaced posteriorly. Yellow inside the mouth. This species has a relatively short, blunt snout; the larger specimens lack vomerine teeth and median intermaxillary teeth; the largest teeth are finely serrate; and jaws not arched, even in large specimens.

Mainly in oceanic locations.