Mainly demersal on continental and insular shelves, but also on the upper slopes, at depths from near shore to 550 m. Has been shown to be pelagic in the open ocean (frequently caught on floating tuna longlines over deep water, and many New Zealand-tagged specimens have been recaptured in Australia). Occurs in small schools that are highly migratory in higher latitudes in their range. There is pronounced partial segregation by size and sex in some areas. Feeds on fishes (bottom as well as pelagic species, ), crustaceans, cephalopods, worms, and echinoderms. Ovoviviparous. Its meat is excellent for human consumption, liver for squalene oil, fins for soup; also utilized as fishmeal. Marketed fresh, dried-salted, and frozen. Adapts well in cap