[2] Common names for this fish include mousefish, ratfish, sandfish, and sand eel.

[2] Its range also stretches into the Eastern Pacific with specimens found off the coast of Chile.

[2] However, this species may be restricted to the south eastern Atlantic Ocean and southwestern Indian Ocean off the coasts of Southern Africa from the Skeleton Coast to the Mozambique Channel.

It has a varied diet, eating zooplankton and free-swimming and buried invertebrates.

As well adults of the species are preyed upon by juvenile South African hakes.