Indo-West Pacific: southern India and Sri Lanka to New Guinea, north to the Ryukyu Islands.

Dorsal profile of head moderately sloped. Preorbital bone usually about equal to eye diameter or slightly narrower. Preopercular notch and knob poorly developed. Scale rows on back rising obliquely above lateral line. Trunk with a `checker-board' pattern on upper half of sides. Generally pink to whitish, with a silvery sheen on breast and side of head.

Inhabits both inshore and offshore coral reefs where it occurs singly or in schools. Small juveniles on shallow protected reef flats and are used in the aquarium trade.