T. rubescens is closely related, and quite similar, to Taractes asper, but adults can most easily be distinguished by the bony keel present on the caudal peduncle.

T. rubescens have a varied diet consisting of marine invertebrates (including decapods and cephalopods)[4] and, presumably, small fishes.

Tokiharu Abe suggested in personal communications with Giles W. Mead that T. rubscens adults are likely distributed throughout the tropical oceanic Pacific.

[3] Specimens at various stages of development have been collected throughout the Pacific Ocean, from the Sea of Japan to the coast of Hawaii.

T. rubscens had never been scientifically documented in the Indian Ocean[3] until the year 2010, where it was reportedly collected in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea.