Indo-West Pacific: widespread, from Sri Lanka and India north to southern Japan; south to the Philippines; South China Sea; Gulf of Thailand; Indonesia; Papua New Guinea; the Arafura Sea; Australia from Cockburn Sound, Western Australia to Moreton Bay, Queensland. A record from Reunion is based on a single specimen (MNHN 6846, holotype of Platycephalus borboniensis) that seems to be in error.

Preopercular spines usually 3, upper spine short, subequal with next; small accessory spine usually present. Suborbital ridge usually smooth except for two spines under eye. Interopercular flap present.

Found on sand and mud bottoms of the continental shelf.