Biology

Inhabits inner reef flats and sheltered lagoons. A common inshore species, often on algal or silty reefs and among attached Sargassum on shallow rubble flats (Ref. 48637). Feeds mainly on filamentous green algae and to a lesser extent on fleshy and coralline red algae and on benthic invertebrates. Monogamous (Ref. 52884).