Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Samoa, north to central Japan, south to Australia.

Preorbital bone broader than eye diameter. Mouth large, maxilla extending to below anterior half of eye. A deep notch on lower edge of preopercle. Scale rows on back parallel to lateral line. Juveniles with a black bar through eye, black pectoral fins and a black stripe from pectoral region to lower caudal lobe. Larger juveniles with 3 to 6 white spots on back.

Inhabits steep outer walls of lagoon, channel and seaward slopes.