The species is common in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and in recent years has penetrated the eastern Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal and spread to the western Mediterranean. Lagocephalus sceleratus is one of the most famous Lessepsian migrants, as it is an acute problem in the southern regions of Greece with ecological and economic impact on marine life, fisheries, human health and safety in local communities. The development of large populations in the Eastern Mediterranean and the N. Aegean is due to the high adaptability and lack of predators. It is an opportunistic predator and feeds on fish, cephalopods and crustaceans which are key targets of small-scale coastal commercial fishing, while also attacking already trapped fish, causing damage to the catch and fishing gear. It is one of the most toxic species on the planet, as its tissues contain Tetrodotoxin, a neuroparalytic toxin that can cause death if consumed. For this reason, its marketing and distribution throughout the European Union has been banned. In many areas of the Eastern Mediterranean and the South Aegean, accidental catches of the species often constitute a large percentage of the weight of the fish, especially in coastal fishing.

His back is gray or brown with dark spots and has a white belly. Along its sides it has a characteristic silver stripe while its size can reach up to 40 cm.