[4] This species is a carnivore which feeds on a variety of benthic invertebrates found in areas with a sand substrate, among sea grass and seaweeds.

[5] This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite, it switches sex from female to male at some stage in its life cycle.

Spawning takes place the late austral winter to early spring.

[5] Notolabrus parilus was first formally described in 1850 as Tautoga parila by Scottish naturalist John Richardson (1787-1865) with the type locality given as King George Sound in Western Australia.

[6] The specific name parila is the name given to this species by the aboriginal inhabitants of Port George Sound area.