[2] It is endemic to the Western Cape Province of South Africa, where it occurs in the Moeras and Tradouw Rivers.

During summer, low water levels cut off gene flow between these two.

[4] The introduced smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) is expanding in the region and apparently destroys P. burchelli stocks as it does so.

Human interference with the river's flow around Barrydale as well as water pollution have reached dangerous proportions.

It is assessed to be critically endangered by the IUCN; no conservation plan has been proposed for the species yet.