This species can weigh several kilograms, and can reach an armspan of up to 2 metres (6 ft 7 in).

The skin is fairly smooth with long flaps able to be raised in the white stripes on the sides of the body.

[4] This species has one of the widest distributions of all octopus, because of the planktonic life stage of the hatchlings.

It is found throughout tropical waters in the Indo-Pacific, from Hawaii and Easter Island to South Africa.

Lairs found on the southern Great Barrier Reef consist of deep vertical holes excavated in coral rubble.

Historically it was collected by Polynesian Hawaiians using torches to find foraging animals at night.