This species inhabits coastal, sandy areas, coral reefs, and deep lagoons to depths of 50 m. It primarily consumescrustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms, polychaetes and fishes (Sato and Walker 1984, Carpenter and Allen 1989). This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite and exhibits a protracted spawning season (Currey et al. 2013). In some areas, particularly Thailand, this species has been observed forming spawning aggregations (Tamelander et al. 2008). This is a fast-growing, short-lived species with high natural mortality. A study conducted in the southern Arabian Gulf reported its maximum age as 11 years, spawning occurs from April to June, and mean age and size at sexual maturity was 1.8 years and 24.6 cm for males and 2.4 years and 27.7 cmfor females (Grandcourt et al. 2011). When applying an age at first reproduction of 2.5 years and longevity of 11 years, its estimated generation length is 6.75 years based on the following equation recommended by the IUCN Red List methods: Age at first reproduction + (Age at last reproduction -“ age at first reproduction)/2.