The small mouth contains five rows of incisors in both upper and lower jaw, but no molars.

[1] The species occurs in the southeastern Atlantic, from Angola to Cape Agulhas at the southern tip of South Africa.

[1] The species is a generalist and feeds on seaweeds, algae, crustaceans, worms, molluscs, sea urchins, and occasionally small fish.

[1] Pachymetopon blochii is a frequent host of the parasitic isopod Anilocra capensis.

However, it appears not to be exploited to an extent that is damaging stocks, and is common in a number of protected areas in its range.