[2] They occur from Namibia to South Africa with questionable records of sightings from Madagascar and Mozambique in Africa and the United States of America and Mexico in North America.

The female lays approximately 50 relatively large (15–16 mm diameter) eggs which the male carries in his mouth for about three to four months.

During this time the male does not feed and can lose nearly one quarter of his body weight.

[2] The adults feed on crustaceans, polychaete worms, fishes and mollusks including cephalopods.

[1] As with many species in this family, the dorsal fin spines are venomous and any wounds inflicted by them must be promptly treated.