Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Tahiti, north to southern Japan, south to Australia.

Dorsal profile of head steeply sloped, preorbital bone broad, about twice the eye diameter. Preopercular notch and knob moderately developed. Scale rows on back rising obliquely above lateral line. Head with numerous undulating blue lines. Juveniles with a series of 3 to 8 brown bars on sides and a chalky-white spot, with a broad blackish margin, present below anterior soft dorsal ray. Large adults brownish to grey with small white spots and fine striations on the head.

Occasionally encountered in coral reefs or shallow inshore flats. Found singly or in small groups (up to 15 to 20 individuals). Adults on deep coastal slopes; juveniles on shallow algae-reef flats, often near freshwater run-offs.