The margin of the parapods and body are marked with a thin electric blue line.

The two rather long "tails" at the end of the animal are characteristic of the genus Chelidonura, the left one is always longer.

They have also well-developed sensory cilia on the anterior edge of the head which are used to find their prey.

[2][3] This species lives on reef areas in shallow water lagoons with sandy or muddy bottom until 30 m depth.

[3] Chelidonura varians feeds on flatworms and it is used in aquariums to eradicate small flat worm invasions.