It is a deep-sea species found in the Arctic Ocean, and appears to be common at depths below 1,000 m (3,300 ft).

It is transparent and pale blue, with four primary noncontractile tentacles set high above the margin of the dome-shaped bell.

Lower down near the undulating margin are four short secondary tentacles, each with a statocyst on either side.

The primary tentacles are solid and usually held above the bell in the direction of locomotion when the animal is foraging.

Some individuals have been caught by gentle suction and brought to the surface and it has proved possible to keep these alive in dark tanks at 1 °C (34 °F) for a week or more.