Colour in life: deep brown above with deep red tips to spines, tube feet fawn (Humphreys, 1981). Associated with live coral beds, sometimes taking shelter under stones close to the live colonies (Sastry, 1991). Also distributed in Gilbert Islands, Tuamotus, New Caledonia (Clark, 1954); SE Arabia, W India, Pakistan, Maldive area, Ceylon, Bay of Bengal, East Indies, north Australia, Philippine, China, south Japan, South Pacific Is. and Hawaiian Is. (Clark & Rowe, 1971); Australia (Rowe & Gates, 1995); Lakshadweep (India)(Sastry, 1991). General distribution: tropical, Indo-Pacific region, depth range 0-30 m. (Rowe & Gates, 1995); East coast of Africa to Hawaiian Islands (Sastry, 1991). Ecology: benthic, reef (Rowe & Gates, 1995).