Southwest Pacific: Arafura Sea, northern Australia, from the Timor Sea in the west to the Gulf of Papua in the north and on the eastern coast of Australia as far south as Gladstone.

Common in prawn trawling grounds and is most abundant closer to the coast. Feeds predominantly on benthic prey consisting mainly of crustaceans and teleosts. Exhibits diel vertical migration, possibly following the movement of crustaceans along the water column. Continuous spawning during the year.