Pacific Ocean: Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean, then from the Philippines to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef.

Males distinct and head looks bright yellow underwater; females drab with white teeth and some pale spots. Scales large. 4 median predorsal scales; a transverse pair of smaller scales which overlap medially in mid-dorsal line located directly anterior to 1st median scale.

Females usually in small groups with a male nearby; they may mix with females of similar species.