This is a large and smooth sea cucumber, measuring 30-60 cm long by 10-15 cm width.
It is readily distinguished by its ocellated pattern : the body is black or dark brown, thick and straight, covered with rounded red dots with a black papilla at the center. The red dots can be confluent around the anus, which is large and in dorso-terminal position (deprived of anal teeth, as for all Bohadschia species). The trivium (ventral side) can be brown or fawny, with short and dark tube feet.
Deeper than 10 meters, the red dots are not visible any more without an artificial light source, increasing the risk of confusion.
When disturbed, this species will readily emit long and sticky Cuvierian tubules.
Juveniles can be greyish with yellow dots, looking a lot like the Pacific sister species B. argus.
