Gymnothorax favagineus is a large moray which can reach a maximum length of 3 metres (10 feet), but specimens usually encountered are much smaller.

[2] Its body is serpentine in shape, with a white to yellowish background color dotted with numerous black spots.

The laced moray is widespread throughout the Indo-West Pacific area from eastern coast of Africa, Red Sea included, to Papua New Guinea and from southern Japan to the Great Barrier Reef.

During the day, it sits sheltered in crevices between 1 and 45 meters (3 and 150 feet) deep.

It leaves its lair at night to actively hunt its prey along the reef.