This species is mostly found over coral and rocky reef complexes as adults, but is known to move into inshore areas in sandy bays and lagoons in small numbers (Hamilton and Walter 1999). Juveniles inhabit more inshore, shallower waters around the coastlines, often venturing into lagoons, tidal flats, mangroves and estuaries (Whitfield and Harrison 2003, González Acost and De La Cruz Agüero 2004). It has also been observed well into the upper reaches of rivers (Allen et al. 2002). The species has been reported in pelagic open ocean settings, milling around stationary buoys (Fedoryako 1988). It also is known to be a schooling fish, with aggregations consisting of more than 1500 fish (Sala et al. 2003). Itsdiet consists of crustaceans and fishes (Chan et al. 1974). The maximum total length is 120 cm (Frimodt 1995). The mean length at first maturity (sex unknown) is 30 cm (Tharwat and Al-Gaber 2006).