Indo-Pacific: East Africa (except the Red Sea) to the Line and Society Islands, north to Ryukyu and Wake Islands, south to Vanuatu; throughout Micronesia.

Body silvery pink with longitudinal red stripes; head red with silvery reflections on the cheek and opercle; spinous dorsal pink (or light red) with submarginal dark red band, the membranes tipped in white; other fins red to yellowish red, with the upper and lower edges of the caudal fin darker red; leading edges of anal and pelvic fins white with a submarginal darker red band, base of pectoral fins darker red.

Found in relatively deep waters of outer reef slopes and has been collected on reef flat and lagoon patch reefs. Feeds mainly on benthic crabs and shrimps at night. Spine of preopercle venomous.