Aracana auritia was first formally described in 1798 as Ostracion auritus by the Irish biologist George Shaw with its type locality given as the "Islands of the Pacific Ocean", thought to be Tasmania.

[4] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies this genus in the family Aracanidae which is in the suborder Ostracioidea within the order Tetraodontiformes.

The bony plates on the caudal peduncle are less well developed than the carapace but they almost form a complete band in adults.

They are found in seagrass beds and offshorecrocky reefs in sheltered watres in bays, harbours and inlets at depths between 10 and 160 m (33 and 525 ft).

[7] Aracana aurita prey on benthic invertebrates which they expose by blowing a jet of water into the substrate.