Range and natural history
The published account associates most collections with very shallow patch reefs that have good water circulation. One report from Haleiwa on Oahu places it on the branching coral Porites compressa. These are specific observations of habitat use, rather than evidence that any coral colony will hold the fish.
Its rarity in collections partly reflects how difficult it is to detect. FishBase describes repeated unsuccessful attempts to find additional specimens for photographs. A sparse record is therefore not a direct measure of how many fish exist, and identification deserves particular care.
Sources: Pleurosicya larsonae species summary
