It is a tropical, marine and freshwater-dwelling catfish which occurs between Costa Rica and Peru.

[3] The fish is named in honor of Austrian ichthyologist Franz Steindachner.

[4] Due to insufficient statistical information on the species, the IUCN redlist lists Cathorops steindachneri as Data Deficient.

It notes that pollution and coastal development pose a threat for the species.

[1] It is marketed commercially, although its small size makes it an uncommon food fish.