The parore was first formally described as Boops tricuspidatus in 1824 by Jean René Constant Quoy & Joseph Paul Gaimard with the type locality given as "Shark Bay, Western Australia".

[1] The colour and pattern of the parore is dark greenish-grey dorsally and silvery grey on the flanks and ventrally and belly.

[6] Parore are found in shallow coastal and estuarine waters where the frequently congregate in large schools in the vicinity of rocky outcrops and jetties.

While primarily consuming algae, the species is an opportunistic omnivore, feeding on other food items like small crustaceans, pipi, mussels and worms.

[5][7] As parore mature, they congregate in large shoals and the adults form 'runs' from estuarine waters and coastal lakes into the sea.

[8] The species schools during the daytime, and at night hides in sheltered areas, camouflaging themselves by turning a brown colour.

[7] In modern times, parore are fished for commercially in New South Wales[4] and in New Zealand they are landed as a bycatch in the grey mullet fishery.