Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian and Society islands.

Color variable; has a black phase with white pectoral ray tips. Bony part of illicium with numerous dark crossbands and nearly twice as long as the 2nd dorsal spine; esca an elongate tuft of flattened appendage.

Inhabit shallow sheltered reefs. Adults usually with sponges; juveniles openly on sand or reef, mimicking small sponges or nudibranchs. Benthic. Oviparous. Eggs are bound in ribbon-like sheath or mass of gelatinous mucus called 'egg raft' or 'veil'.