[1] The species lives mainly in the intertidal zone,[2] and is native to the Northeast Pacific from Southern California to Mexico, but has since been introduced to many other countries.

The female provides nutrition directly, her internal organs and muscles degrading throughout the gestation.

[6] Paracerceis sculpta is thought to have been spread around the world by ships involved in international trade.

The sponges they reproduce in grow on the hulls of ships and this allows Paracerceis sculpta to be transported easily.

Through these mechanisms Paracerceis sculpta has spread to Australia, Brazil, the Atlantic coast of Europe, Hawaii, Hong Kong, the Mediterranean[3] and Japan.