Indo-Pacific: Red Sea (including the Gulf of Oman) and East Africa to Oceania.

Body color silvery pink; edge of scales red; opercular margin black; all fins red; submarginal band in each caudal fin lobe; leading edges of median fins white. Inner pectoral axil with numerous small scales. Differs from M. amaena by possessing prominent white leading edges on its soft dorsal, anal, and tail fins, and from M. berndti by having a deep red spinous dorsal fin.

Occur in reef flats and shallow lagoon and seaward reefs. Benthopelagic in or near crevices and caves. Mainly nocturnal. Feed mainly on plankton such as crab larvae. Secretive, hovering under ledges and in caves. Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae.