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

Interorbital space flat. Lower jaw slightly protruding. Pectoral fins long, reaching level of anus. Bases of dorsal and anal fins without scales, their last soft rays extended in short filaments. Scale rows on back parallel to lateral line. Color of back and sides varies from brownish to lavender or reddish purple; the snout and interorbital space with narrow yellow lines and blue spots; the dorsal and caudal fins light blue or lavender with reddish orange margins.

Occurs over rocky bottoms; off Guam, caught most abundantly between 180 and 270 m. At night, it migrates vertically to the upper part of its habitat to feed.