dʒˈuːvənˌaɪlz ɑːɹ mˈoʊstli fˈaʊnd ɔnðə bˈɑːɾəm ʌv ʃˈæloʊ kˈɔːɹəl ɹˈiːfs, sˈiːɡɹæs flˈæts, ænd ɚɹˈaʊnd mˈæŋɡɹoʊv ˈaɪləndz, wˈɛɹæz ˈoʊldɚɹ ˌɪndᵻvˈɪdʒuːəlz tˈɪpɪkli ɹᵻsˈaɪd ɪn ænd ɚɹˈaʊnd dˈiːpɚ ɹˈiːfs ænd ɹˈɑːki ˈɛɹiəz, wˌɛɹ ðeɪ tˈɛnd tə sˈiːk ʃˈɛltɚɹ ɪn kɹˈɛvɪsᵻz ænd ˌʌndɚ lˈɛdʒᵻz dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə dˈeɪ ænd lˈiːv ðɛɹ ʃˈɛltɚɹ æt nˈaɪt tə fˈiːd ɔnðə sˈiːbɛd ɪn ʃˈæloʊɚɹ ˈɛɹiəz.
Juveniles are mostly found on the bottom of shallow coral reefs, seagrass flats, and around mangrove islands, whereas older individuals typically reside in and around deeper reefs and rocky areas, where they tend to seek shelter in crevices and under ledges during the day and leave their shelter at night to feed on the seabed in shallower areas.