The body of the hydranths (feeding individuals) as well as the gonophores (reproductive polyps) are pinky red, while the tentacles are transparent white.

[4] This species is found around the South African coast from Saldanha Bay to KwaZulu-Natal[4] as well as off the Cape Verde Islands, Trinidad and Bermuda.

It occurs in various habitats where the sponges on which it feeds live, including rocky shores, quiet coastal waters, bays and on mangrove roots.

[4] At breeding time, female gonophores contain one to four actinulae (mobile tentaculate larvae), and these are released into the water column in a series of pulsations over the course of a few minutes.

When settled, they quickly undergo metamorphosis and the new polyps that form develop tentacles and start feeding in about two days.