Type locality of Malacoctenus zaluari/i>, Espírito Santo, Vitória, APA Baía das Tartarugas, Ilha do Boi, Ilha Gaeta de Dentro, ZUEC 1920. Known from the Brazilian coastline from Maranhão (Parcel Manoel Luiz) to Santa Catarina States. It is abundant in Northeastern Brazil (Maranhão to Bahia), and while it is still abundant in the northern part of Southeastern Brazil (Espírito Santo), it is uncommon southwards in the Southeast (Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo), and become increasingly rare southwards to Paraná and Santa Catarina States. In southern Brazil, this species is often confused with Malacoctenus delalandii, which often lives in shallow rocky shores among algae, as well as mangroves and even in low salinity waters (Ref, 123106).