Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. Palau in Micronesia. It has not been found on low islands or atolls of the Indo-Pacific.

Body light red to yellowish; fins red, leading edges of soft dorsal, anal, caudal and pelvic fins white.

A nocturnal fish hiding in caves or beneath ledges by day, feeding on plankton such as crab larvae at night. Found in loose aggregations in caves, sometimes with other soldierfish.