 This shark is endemic to a small area off South Africa from the Western Cape to KwaZulu-Natal.It is found close to the coast, from the surf zone to a depth of , and has benthic habits.Reaching in length, the Natal shyshark is similar to the puffadder shyshark in appearance but has a stockier body, less flattened head, a compressed caudal peduncle, and a different color pattern.