It is found in the southeast Atlantic, from Lüderitz, Namibia to central Natal, South Africa, between latitudes 0° and 37° S. It can grow up to a length of about 1.22 metres (4 ft 0 in).

[2][3] The yellowspotted catshark is found in the seas around the coast of southern Africa at depths down to about 500 metres (1,600 ft).

[2] Although fairly common off the coast of South Africa it occurs less frequently and in deeper waters in the more tropical parts of its range in Namibia and Natal.

In the offshore waters where it lives there is a large hake fishery and the yellowspotted catshark is caught and discarded as bycatch during trawling.

The rate of reproduction is probably failing to keep up with the depletion of the adult population by this means thus threatening the species' future.