[3] The two-spot wrasse reaches lengths of about 14 cm (5.5 in).

Its body colouration varies from brown to yellow or green in spots or streaks.

[4] The two-spot wrasse inhabits tropical and sub-tropical coastal waters in the Indo-Pacific from East Africa to Hawai'i, southern Japan, and Vanuatu,[4] at depths of 2–110 m (7–361 ft).

[1] The species has a benthic or bentho-pelagic habitat and frequents the outer slopes of reefs as well as lagoons and seagrass beds.

[4] It appears to be common in Hawai'ian and Japanese waters, but more rare off Africa and in French Polynesia.