長い間日本の固有種と考えられていましたが、近年パラオ近海などでも生息が確認されました。生まれた時は全てメスですが、成長するにつれてオスに性別を変える性転換を行います。

For a long time the Sakuradai was thought to be an endemic species of Japan, but in recent years its presence has been confirmed in the waters around Palau and other areas. All are female at birth, but undergo a sex change to male as they grow older.