Indo-Pacific: Reunion to Hawaii and Rapa, north to Japan, south to Australia and New Caledonia.

Interorbital space flat. Dorsal and anal fins without scales, their last soft rays extended in short filaments. Pectoral fins long, reaching level of anus. Scale rows on back parallel to lateral line. Body purplish or brownish violet; sides with numerous yellow spots or faint yellow, chevron-shaped bands; the upper lobe of the caudal fin yellow; dorsal fin yellowish to yellowish-brownish.

Occurs over rocky bottoms; off Guam, caught most abundantly from 180 to 270 m.