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

Dorsal profile of head steeply to moderately sloped. Preorbital width about equal to, or slightly less than eye diameter. Preopercular notch and knob poorly developed. Scale rows on back rising obliquely above lateral line. Generally whitish or pink with silvery sheen, frequently brownish on the upper part of the head and back. A black spot which is sometimes faint, is on the lateral line below the anterior portions of the soft dorsal fin. Juveniles from the western Pacific whitish with four black stripes on sides and with a round black spot on upper back.

Inhabits offshore coral reefs and also inshore rocky and coral reefs.