Brown with many small black-edged blue spots, broad blue borders on the rear dorsal, anal, pectoral and tail fins. There also is a “pale phase” where it shows 5-6 pale bars on the rear body, which can darken or brighten quickly. It mostly lives solitary, but may form groups of up to 12 individuals with 1 dominant male.

Least concern on the IUCN Red List.

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Durban, South Africa and eastward to French Polynesia and the Pitcairn group, north to the Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands, south to northern Australia and Lord Howe Island. Found in various coral habitats, in a depth range of 1-40 meters.

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