[1] It has a widespread distribution, with occurrences reported in Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Brazil.

Resembling Polymeridium catapastum, P. catapastoides can be differentiated by its non-fluorescent thallus under ultraviolet light (UV−).

The type specimen was collected in Cape Tribulation, Queensland (Australia), north of Daintree, growing on tree bark.

[2] In addition to the type specimen from Australia, P. catapastoides has also been reported from Malaysia and Thailand, previously as P. catapastum.

Additional specimens have been examined from various locations, including Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Chapada do Araripe, Ceará, Brazil.