Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Hawaii and Tahiti, north to southern Japan, south to Australia and Lord Howe Island.

Interorbital space convex. Jaws about equal, or lower jaw slightly protruding. Bases of dorsal and anal fins without scales, their last soft rays extended into short filaments. Pectoral fins long, reaching level of anus. Scale rows on back parallel to lateral line. Overall color pink or reddish with four oblique orange or yellow bars on the sides; the dorsal and caudal fins yellow.

Feeds on fishes, shrimps, crabs, cephalopods, miscellaneous benthic invertebrates and pelagic organisms, including urochordates.