It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Xingu River basin in Brazil.

It is usually found in shallow rapids with a substrate composed of small-to-medium flat rocks up to 50 cm (20 in) in diameter above coarse sand and pebbles.

The species is primarily herbivorous, feeding mainly on diatoms, although sponge fragments and sand grains have also been found in the stomach contents of specimens.

[2] Although originally described as a species of Peckoltia in 2012, a 2015 review conducted by Jonathan W. Armbruster (of Auburn University), David C. Werneke, and Milton Tan listed the species as valid within Ancistomus.

[3][4] A very similar species, but found in the Rio do Pará, is designated L-163.