In addition some species which are classified in the subgenus Congrogadoides have the gill membranes fused to the isthmus.

The gill membranes of the subgenus Congrogadus are not fused while the species in that subgenus and in the third, Pilbaraichthys possess a posterior otic sensory canal pore, which is believed to assist the fish in detecting motion.

[2] Congrogadus are secretive fish which hide among rocks and coral rubble and they occur from the surface down to 70 metres (230 ft).

Most species of the subfamily are protogynous hermaphrodites but Congrogadus subducens appears to be different because the females greater than 300 millimetres (12 in) long have been observed to have small gonads, a feature which almost certainly means that they are not protogynous hermaphrodites.

[2] The genus is found in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean and some species have rather restricted distributions while c. subducens has been claimed over a wide distribution from northern Australia through the Malay Archipelago to Japan,[2] although other sources state that it is endemic to Australia.