The dorsal, caudal and anal fins have a bright blue margin.

[1] In Australia, as well as Lord Howe Island, it is found from the Rowley Shoals and Scott Reef in Western Australia, Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, and along the east coast from Raine Island in Queensland to Bass Point in New South Wales as well as Christmas Island.

[3] The twospined angelfish is found at depths of 5 to 50 metres (16 to 164 ft) in coral reefs within lagoons, rubble patches and drop offs, being commonest around drop offs.

[1] They live in small social groups consisting of a single male and a few females.

[4] The twospined angelfish was first formally described in 1869 by the German-born British ichthyologist and herpetologist Albert Günther (1830–1914) with the type locality given as Ambon Island, Indonesia.