[2] The back is red-orange, while the flanks and the belly are whitish and the fins are yellow.

[2] These fish are widespread in the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to Hawaii and the Tuamotus, north to Japan and to Lord Howe Island to the south.

It usually can be found in lagoons and seaward reefs at depths of 1–113 m (3.3–370.7 ft).

[2] Two genera of monogenean gill parasites, namely Volsellituba and Pennulituba, with a total of five different species, including V. orchidea, V. nabla, V. elephantina, P. piratifalx, and P. cymansis, have been reported from the yellowfin goatfish off New Caledonia, and were apparently found only on this species of fish.

[3] The apocreadiid digenean Homalometron moraveci is found in the intestine.