Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Marquesas and Mangaréva Islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia. Marshall and Mariana Islands in Micronesia.

Scarlet in color; no pigment on median fins but may have a small black spot at base of soft dorsal fin and some dusky pigment at leading edges of median finsScarlet in color; no pigment on median fins but may have a small black spot at base of soft dorsal fin and some dusky pigment at leading edges of median fins.

A nocturnal species found in small, loose groups in caves or under ledges of reef flats, lagoons, and outer reef slopes. Feeds on plankton such as crab larvae.