White to pail yellow color with dark, wavy reticulated line stripes (not visible on its back) and dark body bars. Often in pairs, but sometimes also in larger groups.

Unassessed by the IUCN Red list, but it is one of the more common species of pipefish.

It can be found all across the Indo-West Pacific, from the Philippines and Indonesia to Samoa and the Marshall Islands and Australia. It prefers coral-rich areas or sponges in protected coastal reefs and lagoons, but also sandy, rubble patches. They live in a depth range of 3-12 meters.

Ovoviviparous breeders (they give birth to live young. The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail. Males may be brooding from 6.5-7.0 cm. in length.