General
Cephaplopholis urodeta is a reef-associated species that is not tolerant of habitat degradation. The species prefers clear, shallow waters of outer reef areas to 60 m. It is occasionally found in lagoons, back-reef areas, and on the reef-top.

Country-specific
In Iriomote Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, it occurs on reef flats and slopes (Nakai et al. 2001). In Rota, Mariana Islands, it occurs largely on the upper reef terrace at 2 to 13 m, and is associated with coral pavement (Donaldson 2002). In Iriomote Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, C. urodeta is one of the dominant groupers (together with Epinephelus merra and E. fasciatus) (Nakai et al. 2001).

Feeding
Darfkfin hind feed mainly on small fishes and crustaceans. In a quantitative study of the stomach content in Iriomote Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan (Nakai et al. 2001), small fish and decapod crustaceans constituted 73.4% of stomach contents by weight. Diet composition has seasonal differences; diet is abundant from May to November, and higher hermit crabs in February.

Reproduction and maturity
The minimum size for sexual maturity is 17 cm TL, with a maximum size of 28 cm TL.

The reproductive biology of darkfin hind has been studied briefly (Nakai and Sano 2002). In Iriomote Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, darkfin hind ranged from 11.5 to 21.1 cm TL. Males were larger than females. Protogynous hermaphroditism was proposed, but unconfirmed, because the sexual transitional individuals (with degenerating mature oocytes) were not found in samples.