This species has a wide distribution throughout the Western Central Indo-Pacific,[2] from Maldives to Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Papua-New Guinea up to Fiji and Hawaii[3] These shrimps occur in tropical shallow waters in coral reef environment, at depths of 2 to 66 m (7 to 217 ft), where they can found their preferred hosts.

Like the other species of the genus Urocaridella, have very long rostrums curved upwards, transparent bodies, and numerous brightly-coloured red and yellow spots on the carapace and abdomen.

The antennae are long and transparent, but are not white, as is the case in many species of cleaning shrimp.

They position themselves in a conspicuous location near their cleaning station when a potential client is nearby.

[6] They feed on parasites and mucus that they find on the host during the cleaning sessions but also capture copepods, small microorganisms and debris on the bottom.