Coastal over the continental and insular shelves, and epipelagic from land in temperate to tropical seas. Circumglobal in warm seas. Prey - Mostly small schooling fishes including mackerels, bluefishes, clupeids, needlefishes, lanceffishes and lanternfishes. Also feeds on squid, octopus and pelagic crustaceans, and occasionally seabirds. Reproduction - Ovoviviparous.
Embryos are ovophagous and consume smaller siblings.
Danger to humans - Probably not normally dangerous. There are two unconfirmed attacks on boats by this species. Two other species in the family, A supercilious and A. pelagicus, have never been implicated in attacks on humans.