[3] Pristigenys serrula is found as an unfragmented population all the way from Oregon to Chile, and even the Galápagos Islands and Panama.

Oregon sightings are the extremities of the range and most of the population density is along the coast of California and Central America.

[4] The family of Pristigenys are an epibenthic group that are found in rocky or coral environments around depths from 5 to 400 m and have been observed in some caves within its geographic range.

The most noticeable trait that gets this fish aquarium attention is its bright red iris, body, and darkly detailed tail and fins.

The colors of P. serulla are of light olive tones, striped with four laterally darkened striations which are wider than the between spaces.

[7] The eggs, larvae and early juvenile stages of the priacanthid species are pelagic, remaining only in the middle of the water column while they mature.

Once they have sufficiently grown and found a habitat to settle in, they transform into fully matured crevice and reef dwelling epibenthic fishes.

The spawning season for this species has been estimated to occur from between August and December as this is when the larvae are primarily spotted.

Another important behavioral trait of this family of fishes is that they have been shown to produce sound and possibly receive it from one another.

[10] Other creatures they prey on include octopuses, pelagic shrimp, stomatopods, small fish and polychaetes.

[7] Data pinpointing the specific predators of the P. serrula is not very clear but another species, Priacanthus japonicus, belonging to the same family have been found in the stomach of yellowfin tuna along with being parasitized by the copepod Caligus cookeoli.