This species is common at Kwajalein. They can be seen on numerous seaward, lagoon and pinnacle reefs. Often they hang around sand channels on the seaward reef, often settling down to rest on the sand and rubble. They can frequently be seen at a distance, hovering in the water column well above the bottom.
Below is a juvenile living in a lagoon slope Halimeda algae patch.
A large individual digs in the algae bed for its dinner. This species is known to eat a wide variety of algae and invertebrates.
Resting in the algae.
Displaying at each other. This appeared to be a kind of territorial aggression, probably between males.
Created 22 October 2010
Updated 27 March 2017