Body grey with fine pale barring. Young with 25-30 dark brown bars separated by white narrow interspaces; bars become obscure with age where in large adults, the pattern becomes mottled brown; corner of mouth dark brown. Head usually lighter, yellowish with variable dark blotching.

Has not yet been assessed for the IUCN Red List.

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa (Ref. 33390) to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef.
Inhabits reef flats, clear shallow lagoons, and seaward reefs.
Benthic, depth range 2 – 20 meters.

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