The Bali and Lombok population was recently described as a separate species as P. steenei on the bases of color differences. The white bar behind the eye, used to distinguish the species, fades in the Philippine and northern Australian populations, while in Sulawesi, it shows clearly. The ones with the orange head are thought to be male. A very aggressive species that readily attacks the camera when it sees its own reflection. Mainly found on deep coastal slopes with remote sponges and crinoids in about 30 m depth and often occurs in pairs (Ref. 48635).