It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the upper Xingu River basin in Brazil.

In the system of "C-Numbers" developed by the German fishkeeping magazine DATZ to identify undescribed species of Corydoras in the aquarium hobby, this fish had been assigned numbers "C55", "C105", "C106", "C107", and "C108" until these were correctly identified.

It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter.

The Xingu corydoras is of commercial importance in the aquarium trade industry.

As they mature they develop a pinkish tinge to their main body colouration which is broken by brown speckles.