This species can be easily identified by its large size, thick lips, two black lines behind its eyes, and the hump on the foreheads of larger adults.

[4][5][6] The humphead wrasses can be found on the east coast of Africa around the mouth of the Red Sea, and in some areas of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

At certain times of year, adults move to the down-current end of the reef and form local spawning aggregations (groups).

[6] Very opportunistic predators, C. undulatus preys primarily on invertebrates such as mollusks (particularly gastropods, as well as pelecypods, echinoids, crustaceans, and annelids) other fish, and even the highly venomous Crown-of-thorns starfish.

In an effort to protect it, export of the humphead wrasse out of Sabah has been banned; however, it has not prevented illegal, unreported and unregulated activities.

Protection by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is managed in this area by the federal Department of Fisheries Malaysia, , which issues permits to regulate fishing activity.

In 1996, following a decade of rapid population decline, the humphead wrasse was placed on the IUCN Red List of endangered species.

However, with the presence of these null alleles, the results may have been slightly biased, or they may be related to a particularity of the C. undulatus, which are highly restricted to coral reef habitats.

Although the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora has banned its export, the fish are still smuggled across the Malaysia–Philippines border.

[12] Four main factors have allowed illegal, unregulated and unreported activities to persist: Most exports of the humphead wrasse in Malaysia occur in Sandakan, Papar, and Tawau, where the fish could recently be purchased for between US$45.30 and $69.43, with its retail price ranging from $60.38 to $120.36.