It is an Indo-Pacific species which occurs from the Mascarene Islands east to Japan, Indonesia and Australia.

They are mainly pelagic in their early life stages until they mature and settle on the substrate to breed.

The females carry the eggs in a brood pouch formed by their modified pelvic fins.

The prevalence in Australia is based on Allen & Erdmann (2012) and Kuiter (2009).

Some researchers identified Solenostomus leptosoma as a junior synonym of S. paradoxus (see Kuiter 1993).