It is native to the tropical Western Indo-Pacific region and is harvested for food.

Its range extends from Kenya and Madagascar to the west, to Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Taiwan, and other island groups in the western Pacific.

It is nocturnal and typically found on forereef slopes, at depths between 0 and 23 m (0 and 80 ft), and prefers microhabitat with complex topography.

[1] This species has not been cultured at industrial scales, but a technique to produce its juvenile has been developed.

Its planktonic larva rapidly settles into the benthic phase in 4-8 days after fertilization.