[5] Larger adults, with a standard length in excess of 35 cm (14 in) have a protruding snout and a concave dorsal profile of the head.

[7] Platax pinnatus is found in the Indo-West Pacific although FishBase notes that records from the Indian Ocean, other than Australia, are subject to some doubt.

[5] Platax pinnatus adults are normally solitary but will gather in large schools to move over open substrates.

[5] This species has been observed to significantly reduce algal growths on coral in studies simulating the effects of overfishing on the Great Barrier Reef.

[9] These fishes are caught by fishers using hook and line, palisade traps, spears, trawls, and hand nets; the flesh is palatable, but not valued.