Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands, north to the Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands, south to Australia. Southeast Atlantic: Port Alfred, South Africa.

Maxilla extending to below middle of eye; interorbital space flattened. Dorsal and anal fins without scales. Generally blue-gray or mauve to overall reddish; fins yellowish to reddish except pelvic and anal fins which are sometimes whitish; margin of maxilla black.

Inhabits reefs and rocky bottom areas to depths of at least 100 m. Pelagic and benthopelagic.