The banded pipefish is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, Red Sea included. Its range includes Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Japan, the Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Northern Mariana Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, South Africa, and Taiwan. It inhabits tide pools, lagoons, and outer reef slopes in tropical climates. The banded pipefish has a straight, elongated body which reaches a maximum length of 7.4 in.. It has fleshy streams coming back from its head. These trails are thought to be mechanisms of camouflage for the pipefish whilst hiding in reeds.