White to pale greenish with a dark black or diffuse bar behind the head and rear body, sometimes with small blue spots on the head and blue margins on the lip, pectoral, anal and tail fin. They are commonly seen sheltering between Pocillopora coral.

Unassessed by the IUCN Red list, but a common sight in the Pacific. They have been replaced by Dascyllus cranes in the majority of the Indian Ocean, except for the Eastern part of the Indian Ocean.

Pacific Ocean: Cocos-Keeling Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean to Samoa and the Line Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Rowley Shoals (eastern Indian Ocean) and Lord Howe Island. Not found in the Hawaiian and Society islands and islands beyond.

This species is oviparous and mate by benthic spawning. Females put their eggs on hard substrate which is cleaned and prepared by the males. Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate the eggs.