Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the central Pacific, not including Hawaii and the Leeward Islands. Replaced by Myrichthys magnificus in the Hawaiian Islands.

Pale cream in color with variable pattern of large and small black spots with narrower white interspaces.

Found in sandy areas of reef flats, lagoons, and seaward reefs; living buried in the sand. May aggregate in large numbers under a light at night. Sometimes fully exposed when searching for prey.