Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Sodwana Bay, South Africa and east to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Shark Bay, Western Australia and Lord Howe Island.

The initial phase closely resembles that of S. globiceps and S. rivulatus. May be differed according to the number of scale rows and scales on the ventral side.

Inhabit reef flats and lagoon and seaward reefs to at least 25 m depth.