The body plan is radially symmetric around a central mouth, with a polyhedral shape bearing 4 main ridges which end in short basal teeth.

The species is bioluminescent and has a bluish tint on the ridges of the nectophores and is covered in gelatinous sheets that form a "box" around the mouth.

[7] Bassia bassensis is common in warmer and tropical waters in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, specifically around the African and Asian coasts.

The species is generally found in the top 50 meters of the epipelagic zone of the ocean.

[11] Enough food availability in the concerned areas might mitigate the negative effect of low or high salinity waters, given the positive and significant relationship between siphonophore WDV and zooplankton wet weight biomass.