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

In Asia, juveniles may be reddish dorsally, while in Oceania they tend to have golden-green upper parts and white underparts.

Its range extends from East Africa and the Red Sea to Japan, New Caledonia and Australasia.

[6] The black-sided hawkfish is an ambush predator; it usually lies in wait on a head of coral, propped up by its stiff pectoral fins, ready to dart out at passing crustaceans or small fish.

[5] It is mainly a solitary fish, but may be seen in pairs or may form small harems with one dominant male and several females.