This is a circumpolar species of basket star that ranges south to California and is found at depths of 2 to 1240 meters--it is the only species of basket star present in this geographical region (Lambert and Austin 2007).
RaceRocks (2011) indicates that it "can be found in rocky intertidals in areas with high high currents only (~10cm/s or more ). Juveniles typically cling to adults and on octocoral colonies ,while adults locate crevices in which to hide during day and then climb to an elevated point to feed at night". This species has long-coiling arms that branch at the tips, and a disc up to 14 cm in diameter. It is usually tan-coloured with brown markings, but may also be maroon, reddish, orange, salmon, pink or white (Lambert and Austin 2007).
