Grey to black body.
Juveniles are black overall with bluish scale centres, a white blotch on the forehead and another on the upper sides.
Adults lack the spot on the head, and the spot on the sides is reduced in size.

Unassessed by the IUCN Red list.

Living at the reef at a depth between 1 and 55 meter.
Found in small groups around coral heads or large rocks.
It can be found in the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and East Africa, to the Pitcairn Islands, southern Japan, and Australia.

Oviparous (lays eggs with little or no other embryonic development within the mother), distinct pairing during breeding.
Males guard and aerate (aircirculation) the eggs.