In the tropical Indian Ocean known only from Madagascar; in the tropical Pacific, in the west from Australia and Sulawesi eastwards to Marianna Islands, Palau, and New Caledonia; tropical, Indo-west Pacific, depth range 3-12 m., also in Australia (Rowe & Gates, 1995); in East Indies (Clark & Rowe, 1971). Also distributed in Celebes (Selenka, 1867). Ecology: benthic, inshore, detritus feeder, deposit feeder (Rowe & Gates, 1995).