Indo-Pacific: East Africa south to Natal, South Africa and east to the Line, Society, and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef. It has not been reported from the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Oman, or the Persian Gulf and is absent in the Hawaiian Islands, Marquesas, Pitcairn Group, and Easter Island.

Pale salmon pink; edges of scales dorsally on body deep blue to black; median fins with broad black outer border. Inner pectoral fin axil naked except for one (rarely two) moderate scales on lower half.

Usually inhabits coral-rich areas of drop-offs and steep channel slopes from below the effects of surge to over 25 m. Occurs singly or in small groups, sometimes with other species.