Chama lazarus has a shell that usually grows to about 75 mm, with a maximum length of 140 mm. The outer surface of the shell is reddish or pale brown, and shows long, branched, leaf-like spines.
This invasive species is widespread in the Indo-West Pacific, from East Africa, including the Red Sea, to Melanesia; north to Japan and south to Queensland. The distribution includes Australia, Philippines, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Swaziland, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, South Africa, British Indian Ocean Territory, Fiji, Thailand, Comoros, Madagascar, Micronesia and Guam.