It is an Indo-Pacific species which ranges from Malaysia east to the Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan and south to northwestern Australia, as well as Palau in Micronesia.

[2] It is an uncommon species which occurs among branching corals in the sheltered lagoons protected by reefs.

It can be found in small to large aggregations low in the water over the reef.

[2] During the day these fish shelter in the reef and they emerge at night to feed on zooplankton and benthic invertebrates.

[1] The specific name honours the American ichthyologist Alvin Seale (1871–1958).