It is popular in aquariums because of its distinctive appearance and its ability to remove organic particles and improve water quality.

The tentacles are striped in dark and pale brown bands and bear neither stylodes nor eye spots.

[2] The native range of S. spectabilis is the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, but it is now also found on the coasts of Africa and Mozambique and the Gulf of Mexico.

It is sometimes found growing in crevices in the coral Pocillopora meandrina, under boulders in still water, in holes in lava, in tidal pools and in channels exposed to heavy surf.

Some specimens, particularly larger ones, have both male and female gametes and a study concluded that this was consistent with sequential hermaphroditism.

[7] Fertilization is external, and after a short time in the plankton, the trochophore larvae settle out and grow into adult worms.