The head is slightly narrower than the mantle, the eyes are prominent and are surrounded by small granulations.

It occurs over reefs and sandy seabeds, often hiding in crevices or under boulders and in empty mollusc shells.

As with many other octopus species, the female selects a shelter and broods a batch of eggs.

An invertebrate shell is usually chosen as a shelter; small individuals usually choose gastropod shells such as Zidona dufresnei, Odontocymbiola magellanica or Buccinanops cochlidium, clams such as Pitar rostratus or Amiantis purpurata or large barnacles in the genus Balanus.

The oyster is the most favoured shelter overall, with the majority of eggs being deposited inside the concave valve.