Habitat: Marine, reef-associated. Usually close to caves. Youngs common in seagrass beds. Depth range 1 - 90 m Natural History Notes: One of the least shy of reef species. Indications of sex reversal have been reported. Carnivorous, feeds mainly on fishes and crabs, to a lesser extant on other crustaceans and mollusks. Solitary and mainly diurnal, but may sometimes form schools. Spawns near the new moon with up to 30,000 aggregating at certain spawning sites. Characteristics: Five various shades of brown or olive bands on the body, complete in the dark phase and scrcely discernible below mid-side in the pale phase. Light areas between bands pale green, grey or white. Dark brown or black spots on and around the eye. Black dorsal saddle on the caudal peduncle. Two dark bands running from upper snout to nape. Can change in seconds from brown dark to pale grey or to the barred pattern. Membrane between the dorsal spines incised.