This shark is found from southeastern India and the Andaman Islands, between latitudes 15° N and 5° N, at depths between 200 and 300 m. Its length usually ranges from around 20–26 cm (7.9–10.2 in), and it is regarded as the smallest catshark of Bythaelurus.

[4] The bristly catshark is a small species among the shark family, and as the name suggests, it has lengthened, cat-like eyes on the side that help it to be easily distinguished.

The long abdomen, rounded snout with a parabolic knoblike tip, and short wrinkle labial also differentiate it from other catsharks.

[5] There are three more species of Halaelurus share this characteristic: canescens, dawsoni, and lutarius,[2] while the bristly catshark is usually in pale brown or white color.

[2] The bristly catsharks live in the deep sea and are restricted to India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the Andaman Islands on the outer continental shelf and upper continental slope at 250–1262 m.[4][6] The diameter of the eggs ranges from 2-4 mm in female with functional but immature ovary; 15–21 mm in female with well-developed ovary.