Widely distributed in the three oceans temperate, tropical and subtropical offshore. It mainly inhabits the shallow continental shelf area and prefers a sandy and muddy bottom. It produces floating eggs, and after hatching, the appearance of the small fish is the same as that of ordinary fish, with the body symmetrical on the left and right, and it first lives a floating life, and then grows up to be active on the sandy ground. It has a protective coloration and will change its body color in response to changes in the external environment. They use their dorsal and anal fins to swim slowly, but when they encounter an enemy, they will swing their body and tail to swim quickly or hide in the sand. It is a stealthy animal on the sand. It is a carnivore and usually feeds on small fish and crustaceans on the sand. There are at least 85 species in 16 genera worldwide, and 3 genera and 11 species are recorded in Taiwan.