Indo-Pacific: East Africa south to Natal, South Africa (except Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf, Indian coast) and east to French Polynesia and the Hawaiian Islands; north to Tosa Bay, Shikoku (Japan), south to the Great Barrier Reef and Lord Howe Island.

Body red dorsally, silvery pink below LL; reddish brown bar from upper end of gill opening to base of pectoral fins; fins red except for spinous dorsal which is translucent red basally and broadly yellow distally. Has smaller scales than most other similar species and the higher number along the body is quite obvious.

Lives in subtidal reef flats, also in lagoon and seaward reefs below the surge zone to depths of at least 26 m. Often occurs in large aggregations during the day in areas of rich foliaceous or cavernous coral growth. Benthopelagic. Feeds on plankton such as crab larvae.