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Early research into the distribution of juvenile snapper (Pagrus auratus) indicated that complex habitats were not important during early life stages. Recent studies in soft-sediment environments, however, have shown juvenile snapper to be more abundant in areas of complex habitat. No previous studies have investigated how and why this species uses both reef and soft-sediment habitats. Therefore, we examined the role of topographic complexity in influencing juvenile snapper distribution and habitat use, providing both field and laboratory evidence for the importance of complex benthic habitats for juvenile snapper and goatfish (Upeneichthys lineatus). Underwater visual censuses showed both species to be most abundant over sand flats adjacent to rocky reef habitats, a distribution that may balance the requirements of food acquisition and predator avoidance. In aquaria experiments, where juvenile snapper …