Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Tuamoto Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia.

Body iridescent silvery with dark red or black mark on each scale. Spinous portion of dorsal fin black; soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins reddish yellow; pectoral fins pink, pelvic fins white. Lower jaw strongly projecting.

Inhabits subtidal reef flats and lagoon and seaward reefs to depths of at least 20 m. Found singly or in small groups in coral-rich areas. Feeds mainly on benthic crabs and shrimps. Large spine at the corner of preopercle is venomous. It raises or flashes its distinctly marked dorsal fin to startle possible predator.