It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Madagascar.

It was described as a new species in 1900 by Antero Frederico de Seabra.

Seabra gave it the binomial of Vesperugo anchieta.

Seabra made an error in his original spelling and corrected it in a later publication in 1900.

[1] It is found in association with riparian habitats, as well as coastal and scrub forests.