Dorsal rays XII, 9-10; Anal rays II, 9-10; pectoral rays 18-20; lateral-line scales 15-16; body depth 2.0-2.1 in standard length. 3 spinous procurrent caudal rays on both upper and lower orgins of caudal fin. Pale green to light blue; black spot on axilla.
habitats
Inhabits clear lagoons, passages, and seaward reef slopes, in thickets of live or dead coral from 2 to 15m depth. Occurs in large aggregations feeding above staghorn Acropora corals. Stomach contents of individuals examined included mainly copepods
Distribution
Widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific, including most islands of Oceania except Hawaiian Islands, Marquesas, and Pitcairn Group; also Australia north to the Ryukyu Islands. The only confirmed records for the Indian Ocean are from the Seychelles, Thailand