Biology

This species is a scraper and has been recorded to graze upon epilithic algae growing on rocky and calcareous substrata at 10-25 m depth. The males are solitary, whereas the females may be seen alone or in couples and accompanied by juveniles. These juveniles are small, about 2-5 cm, and associate with mixed groups of the labrids Halichoeres penrosei and Thalassoma noronhanum, which have a similar colour pattern. This association may be considered as a form of social mimicry (Ref. 84274).