It is found off the coast of eastern Australia and is an external parasite of the yellowback puller (Chromis nitida), a species of damselfish.

[2] Both adult and juvenile Anilocra pomacentri parasitise the yellowback puller (Chromis nitida), a small reef damselfish.

The female has a lifespan of about a year during which time it typically produces three batches of eggs, brooding them in the marsupium underneath the thorax.

The developing mancae pass through four stages before being released into the sea, by which time they are infective and seek out suitable host fishes.

[3] Infected fish show significant reductions in their rate of growth and their fecundity, have a lower number of circulating red blood cells and have an increase in mortality.