The thick leathery skin contains embedded calcareous sclerites and has blackish spots on a mottled background of brown and grey.

The longitudinal rows of tube feet exude mucus to which sand and detritus adhere, often concealing the animal's appearance.

It is found on sand or rock, and favours seagrass meadows and areas with green seaweed such as Caulerpa.

In this way, it has been calculated that the sea cucumbers in a square metre of sand can "process" nearly 20 kg (44 lb) of sediment in a year.

The larvae are planktonic and pass through several stages before settling on the seabed and undergoing metamorphosis into juveniles.