[3] The nine species in the genus are native to rocky reef habitat in the eastern Pacific and western Atlantic Oceans, where they are often dominant predators in the ecosystem.

[5] Paralabrax species generally spawn early in summer, their larvae joining the ichthyoplankton when the water is warmest.

The spotted sand bass (P. maculatofasciatus) is harvested in the commercial fishing industry and is caught for subsistence.

In terms of its evolutionary history, these fish species have characteristics that were present in the earliest known members of the family.

[3][9] A phylogenetic analysis showed that the grey threadfin sea-bass (Cratinus agassizii) is the sister taxon to genus Paralabrax.