Indo-West Pacific: northern Australia and New Guinea, including the Arafura Sea and Timor Sea. Occurrence off Indonesia unknown. This species has been misidentified by most ichthyologists as a color form of Himantura uarnak.

Demersal on soft bottoms on the continental shelf at depths of 10-140m. Juveniles (20-22 cm WD) are free swimming. Feeds on prawns, small fishes and crustaceans. Common by-catch of bottom trawl and beach seine fisheries in the Arafura Sea. Utilized for its meat, skin (high value) and cartilage.