This unique fish adopts a head-down tail-up position as an adaptation for hiding among sea urchin spines.

The dorsal surface of the razorfish is covered by protective bony plates, which extend past the end of the body and over the tail fin, which terminates in a sharp spine.

In open areas like sand patch, rubble or close to coral reef, then the body coloration occurs to be light silver with a black to brown stripe.

When threatened by larger fish, the razorfish darts away to a nearby sea urchin or staghorn coral[9] for protection.

[3] This species is oviparous and the eggs and larvae are pelagic, the juveniles settle when they attain 20 millimetres (0.79 in) in length, frequently choosing to live among the spines of Diadema sea urchins.