The dorsal surface of the sea slug has a thicker longitudinal ridge, the visceral hump, in the centre; it is translucent and whitish, with irregular brown patches and spots.

[4][1][5][6] This species is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, from the eastern coasts of Africa and Madagascar to Japan, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and Australia.

[7] Discodoris boholiensis is nocturnal, spending the day in crevices, or other concealed locations, often with the mantle folded or contorted into strange shapes to make it fit.

If caught in the open in daylight it will crawl rapidly across the sand, but when it moves about at night it does so much more slowly; this behaviour is known as photokinesis, although it is quite incapable of understanding why such a strategy might increase its chances of survival.

The eggs are laid in the form of an orange-brown spiral gelatinous ribbon, deposited on a horizontal or vertical surface, which swells as it absorbs water.