Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Tuamoto Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia and the Austral Islands; throughout Micronesia.

Distinctive combination consisting of a silvery-violet sheen, orange tips on the fins, and a dark orange-red opercular bar.

Occurs in lagoons, channels, and semi-protected seaward reefs rich in corals. Relatively common near arborescent Acropora or layered Porites rus corals. Feeds on plankton such as crab larvae.