Found on continental and insular shelves. Solitary and sluggish fish, often encountered lying on the bottom. Nocturnal, feeding on bottom invertebrates such as spiny lobsters, shrimps, crabs, sea urchins, squids, octopi, snails and bivalves, and fishes like catfishes, mullets, puffers and stingrays. Ovoviviparous with 21 to 28 young in a litter. Kept in captivity for researches. May attack humans if they are molested or stepped upon accidentally. Edible, but mainly valued for its hide, which makes extremely tough and durable leather. Common over shallow sand flats, in channels, and around coral reefs; young may be found among prop roots of red mangroves.