| Main Ref. | Randall, J.E., 1985 | ||||
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| Distribution |
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| Remarks | Inhabits offshore coral reefs usually solitary or in pairs (Ref. 5503, 48637). Common in surface waters around oceanic islands (Ref. 9318). A shy species, usually retreating quickly into caves or large crevices of the reef (Ref. 48637). Juveniles are pelagic, seen under floating objects (Ref. 9318). Feeds on tips of branching corals, algae, sponges, sea urchins, and mollusks (Ref. 1602). Has powerful jaws and strong teeth, with which it bites off chunks of the skeletal rock that includes many polyps (Ref. 59308). |
| Substrate | Hard Bottom: rocky; |
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| Substrate Ref. | Letourneur, Y., P. Chabanet, P. Durville, M. Taquet, E. Teissier, M. Parmentier, J.-C. Quéro and K. Pothin, 2004 |
| Special habitats | Coral Reefs; |
| Special habitats Ref. | Letourneur, Y., P. Chabanet, P. Durville, M. Taquet, E. Teissier, M. Parmentier, J.-C. Quéro and K. Pothin, 2004 |
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| Parasitism |
| Feeding type | mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Feeding type ref | Randall, J.E., 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Feeding habit | hunting macrofauna (predator) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Feeding habit ref | Myers, R.F., 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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