Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. Reported from Cocos Island in the eastern Pacific.

Lower jaw protruding; maxilla extending to below middle of the eye; interorbital space flattened. Dorsal and anal fins without scales. Edges of preopercle and opercle outlined with black. A silvery sheen on head and lower sides. Pectoral fins long reaching to about level of anus. Back and upper sides purplish -brown; the sides blue-gray; the fins whitish to yellow-brown. May show bright yellow on the nape during courtship. Small juveniles have a yellow caudal fin.

Inhabits inshore coral and rocky reefs and in clear waters of lagoons.