The species is known only to inhabit the coastal waters of China, primarily in estuarine tidal flats near Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province.

The Chinese sillago was described in 2011 based on morphological and DNA barcode analysis of several specimens.

Several detailed anatomic features distinguish it from other sillaginids, with Sillago parvisquamis its closest relative based on phylogenetic analysis.

[2] The Chinese sillago was first described by a group of 6 authors in 2011 based on several type specimens collected from various parts of the East China Sea.

The authors also demonstrated that the COI gene is a viable method of phylogenetically analysing the Sillaginide.

[3] The Chinese sillago grades from a yellowish brown above to a silvery grey on its underside.