Indo-Pacific: mainly the Indo-Australian Archipelago from the Solomon Islands to Sumatra, and from off Cape York Peninsula, Australia, northward to the Philippines; also occurring in the central and eastern Indian Ocean as far west as Maldives.

Snout profile low, sloping very gently. Preorbital bone narrow, its width less than half of eye diameter. Preopercular notch and knob poorly developed. Scale rows on back rising obliquely above lateral line. Generally dark brown of the upper part of the head and body with a broad white horizontal band immediately below. The lower part of the head and body dusky brown with a suffusion of yellow. A pair of white spots is on the back just below the dorsal fin base.

Inhabits coral reefs.