Biology

A secretive species that inhabits seaward reefs, among live coral or rubble (Ref. 1602). Benthic and benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Often observed hiding around the base of small heads of live coral, especially Pocillopora meandrina. Stomach contents of specimens taken from Oahu and Johnston I. consisted of demersal eggs, copepods, amphipods, alpheid shrimp, crab megalops, larval shrimp and gastropod. However, it is likely that the copepods and larval food items are from demersal plankton because this species is never seen more than a few centimeters off the bottom (Ref. 33410).