Some specimens of this species were previously identified as Malacoctenus triangulatus (Carvalho-Filho et al. 2020). Populations from Rocas Atoll and Pernambuco differ in several meristic counts and coloration, but molecular data confirms that they represent the same species (Carvalho-Filho et al. 2020).

This oceanic insular species occurs on shallow reefs and has a restricted range in Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Archipelago and the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and Rocas Atoll off Brazil. Its estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) is 42,330 km² and its estimated area of occupancy (AOO) is 88 km². Habitat degradation caused by severe marine heat waves that are increasing in frequency due to climate change is likely impacting this species. It occurs within the Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park, which provides protection from extractive activities, such as fishing. Increases in the residential and tourist populations have led to increased waste runoff and a pollution event in August 2021 deposited a large amount of plastics and oil in the archipelago. Oil spills are considered a major threat to the shallow coastal environments of the archipelago that this species is restricted to. Fishing also impacts its habitat in Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Archipelago. It is estimated to occur in fewer than five locations. This species is assessed as Endangered (EN B2ab(iii)), with a recommendation to conduct species-specific studies to better understand its population status.

This species is distributed in Brazil from Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Archipelago and the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and Rocas Atoll. The depth range for this fish is 0–10 m (Carvalho-Filho et al. 2020, Carvalho-Filho 2023).

Based on a minimum convex polygon drawn around the extent of its range, its estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) is 42,330 km². Based on a 2x2 km grid overlaid on the shoreline within its range, the estimated area of occupancy (AOO) is 88 km² (4 km² at St. Peter's Rocks and 84 km² at Noronha and Rocas Atoll). It is estimated to occur in fewer than five locations, based on pervasive threats from fishing activity, marine heat waves, coastal pollution, including sewage runoff, plastic debris and oil spills.

This species is relatively common as 75 specimens have been taken in a single station and the population is not severely fragmented (FishNet2 online database accessed February 2024, misidentified as Malacoctenus triangulatus, J.T. Williams pers. comm. 2024). It is known from the 17 type specimens and 194 non-type specimens collected in 1979, 1981, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2013, and 2017 (Carvalho-Filho et al. 2020).

This species occurs in rocky and coral tidepools and shallow reefs. The maximum standard length is 4.3 cm (Carvalho-Filho et al. 2020).

This restricted-range, reef species is threatened by the degradation and reduction of coral reef habitats due to global climate change; however, it is not dependent on live coral. In 2019, Rocas Atoll experienced one of the highest coral bleaching events ever registered in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean due to a severe marine heat wave (Gaspar et al. 2021). The frequency and duration of marine heat waves continue to increase at a significant rate and can cause immediate coral mortality, as well as the rapid loss of reef structure due to the swift coral skeleton dissolution (Gaspar et al. 2021). The projected increase in global temperatures is also anticipated to affect the coral reefs off Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (Diele-Viegas and Rocha 2021). 

The recent increase in the residential population to support the increasing demand from the tourism industry is of some concern, including the inadequate treatment of domestic sewage and waste (Afonso et al. 2019). A major pollution event occurred in August 2021 when a large amount of plastics and oil became deposited in the shoreline environments of the windward coast of Fernando de Noronha, in addition to this event, future oil spill events are a major threat to the archipelago (Bastos et al. 2022).

In the remote Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Archipelago, fishing activities impact the marine environment and fish populations (Pinheiro et al. 2020).

This species is not utilized.

There are no species-specific conservation measures. This species' distribution overlaps with the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago Marine National Park and Rocas Atoll Biological Reserve, one of Brazil's most effective marine protected areas (Gaspar et al. 2021). Approximately 80% of Fernando de Noronha is a marine park, and it is the best protected marine park in Brazil with no fishing or collecting within park boundaries and very little fishing occurring in the near vicinity outside the park (L. Rocha pers. comm. 2011). The Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park protects nearshore ecosystems, including the habitats that this species is dependent on (tidepools, rocky shores and reefs) to around 50 m depth and trawling, longlining, the use of drift nets and spears, as well as the capture of sharks, rays and parrotfishes are not allowed (Pimentel et al. 2020). In addition to regulating extractive activities, some measures are in place to control ecotourism (Afonso et al. 2019). Atol das Rocas is a biological reserve off limits to tourism and fishing (L. Rocha pers. comm. 2011). Protected area management in the Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Archipelago is insufficient to protect reef fishes (Pinheiro et al. 2020).

Research is needed on the population status of this species.