Props itself on its pelvic fins on open sand and waits; abundant on muck sites.
To about 29 cm, pale sandy grey covered in fine dark speckles, with a row of dark blotches along the lower flank and, in males, blue and orange markings on the cheek and a black blotch on the tail. It rests on the bottom propped on stiff pelvic fins with the head raised, which is the posture that identifies the family at a distance.
It is an ambush predator of small fish and crustaceans, moving in short hops across open sand and holding position between them. Several Parapercis species share this ground and are separated by cheek markings and the pattern on the tail, which usually means photographing the fish and identifying it afterwards. Males hold territories containing several females. It is among the most numerous fish on the sand at muck destinations and is easily approached. Recorded from about 1 to 25 m.
Ratings are per location: 1 means found on most dives that look for it, 5 means a handful of records. Where enough dives have been logged the figure is calculated from them; otherwise it is an editorial estimate, and says so. We publish habitat and destination, not the dive site.