It is a coastal species, inhabiting waters around the Coral Triangle, including the Philippines, Indonesia, and northwestern Australia.

[1] It lives in coral patches on sandy and muddy slopes at depths of 15–44 metres (49–144 ft), where it can grow to lengths of 16 centimetres (6.3 in).

[2] It is an active cleaner, feeding off of parasitic crustaceans growing on other fishes.

[1] The adult fish form pairs and are normally observed swimming along the bottom around large remote coral heads on muddy slopes.

[3] This species is ovoviviparous, with males carrying eggs and giving birth to live young.