It is native to the tropical and sub-tropical Indo-Pacific region where its habitats include sandy and muddy seabeds, coral reefs, estuaries and mangrove areas.

The area between the eyes is broad and flat and the nostrils bear a small, solid branched tentacle.

The body colour is brown or deep grey, with whitish rounded spots on the dorsal surface, giving a net-like appearance.

About nine bands of colour, alternately dark and pale, start near the snout and bend round below the eye, the mouth and the pectoral fin base.

They defend themselves by swallowing and filling the stomach with water, thus inflating themselves to intimidating proportions.