Habitat: Marine, reef-associated. Inhabits shallow inshore patch reefs to deep banks or rocky bottoms. Depth range 2 - 100 m Natural History Notes: Carnivorous, feeds throughout the day, mainly on crabs and other crustaceans, fishes and octopus. Usually solitary and territorial. Drift just above bottom or rest quietly on pectoral fins. Evidence of sex reversal in this species, most fish larger than 40 cm are males. Characteristics: Soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins broadly marginated with or entirely black, and they have fine white distal edges. Reddish spots on the head and body. Shallow waters : background color white to pale olive. Deeper waters : dark reddish brown ground color, ocellated spots.