The golden zoanthid is a colonial coral that grows in small irregular groups and linear rows that wind over the surface of its host sponge.

[2] The polyps look like small sea anemones and are orange or bright yellow and about 0.6 centimetres (0.24 in) in diameter.

They have a slender column and up to twenty six long, thin, pale yellow tentacles.

It contains toxic substances that may deter fish such as the rock beauty (Holacanthus tricolor) from eating the host sponge.

It can only cope with the most minute particles and the polyps may be able to capture the bigger food items wafted along in the current.