It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can be found in the aquarium trade.

[2] The chiseltooth wrasse is greyish to reddish-brown in background colour and there is a dark streak or spot on each scale on their body.

The juveniles are pale blue with a wide stripe along the flanks while the subadult fish show a yellow band at the base of the tail.

[2] The chisel tooth wrasse is found in clear channels and on the seaward edges of reefs at depths of 3 to 60 metres (10 to 200 ft).

[1] The juveniles are frequently recorded along drop-offs at depths lower than 18 metres (60 ft).