Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Papua New Guinea, north to Taiwan and the Philippines, south to the Great Barrier Reef. Also reported from the Saya de Malha Bank.

Adults are best recognized by the tiny light-blue ocelli scattered over the body, and dark triangle below the eye. Small juveniles have three distinctive white spots along the back. A deep quadrangular occipital pit, its anterior edge, as viewed dorsally, with a slight ridge. A low ridge on each side of pit between tympanic and parietal spines. Pectoral rays strongly modally at 17.

Venomous spines.