Western Pacific: southern Japan to Palau, Guam, New Caledonia and southern Queensland, Australia. Eastern Indian Ocean: Nicobar Islands to Broome, Western Australia. Reports from western Indian Ocean (Heemstra and Randall 1984, 1986, Ref. 3153 and 4319 respectively) are unsubstantiated, except one from Kenya (Smith 1954, Ref. 6514) which seems valid. Records from Hawaii are probably based on released aquarium fishes (Ref. 4787). |