This shallow rocky reef species is known only from a small port on the south coast of Oman and is endemic to this area. The estimated area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) are both inferred to be less than 5,000 km². The planned expansion of the port of Salalah may cause severe declines in this species and the destruction of the shallow habitats it is restricted to are impacted by pollution from the shipping industry and nearby coastal development, which justifies a number of locations of less than five. It is listed as Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii). Research is needed on its population and conservation needs.

This species is only known from the southern coast of Oman near Raysut (Randall 1995, Greenfield 2022). The depth range is 6-8 m (Randall 1995). 

This species is endemic to this area and the estimated area of occupancy (AOO) is inferred to be less than 500 km² (B. Collette pers. comm. 2023). The estimated maximum extent of occurrence (EOO) is 674 km². Based on the major threat from port expansion (habitat destruction) and ongoing pollution from the shipping industry and coastal development, the number of locations is fewer than five.

This species is rare (B. Collette pers. comm. 2023). It is only known from seven specimens collected in 1990 and 1993 (Greenfield et al. 1994, GBIF online database accessed May 2023) plus one collected in 2016 (Chesalin and Al-Shajibi 2017).

This species inhabits steep, rocky bottoms and hides in crevices (Randall 1995). It produces a toxic mucus, likely as a deterrent towards the larger Gymnothorax eels which share this habitat (Greenfield et al. 1994). The maximum standard length is 28 cm (Greenfield 2022).

This species is threatened by extensive coastal development within its restricted range. According to Chesalin and Al-Shajibi (2017), the Oman Ministry of Transport and Communications plans to expand Salalah port which may result in destruction of the habitat of this restricted range species. 

With a significant amount of the world's ocean-transported oil making its way through the Gulf of Oman, the possibility for habitat degradation due to operational spills, discharging of oil contaminated bilge water, leaks, or major oil spills is elevated (Rezai et al. 2004). In 2021, an oil spill in the Gulf of Oman occurred, resulting in the death of several marine vertebrates (Yaghmour et al. 2022).

This species is not utilized.

There are no species-specific conservation measures. Research is needed on the population and its conservation needs.