It was previously classified as Comanthina nobilis but further research showed that it was better placed in the genus Comaster.

Usually it has yellow arms, sometimes with some black or green and white on the under surface close to the centre.

The larvae of this feather star swim freely with plankton for a few weeks, then they settle down growing into a stalked form.

This species is widespread in the Indo-Pacific, from Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef up to Indonesia, Malaysia, New Caledonia and Philippines.

It is found on hard or soft corals in shallow water reefs, at a depth of 10 – 50 m.