It is an uncommon species and is native to the tropical and sub-tropical Indo-Pacific region.

This species is characterised by having narrow black convoluted lines on a white background.

It is similar in appearance to another very rare species, Arothron multilineatus from Pagbilao in the Philippines, which has narrow white convoluted lines on a black background.

In the eastern Indian Ocean it occurs in the seas around Penang Island, Malaysia, and in the Western Pacific Ocean, it occurs in the seas around the Ryukyu Islands, Japan.

This fish typically inhabits coral reefs and is found in waters shallower than 10 m (30 ft).