Type locality of the syntypes of Spratelloides aestuarius: 'tidal portion of the Zwartkops River near Port Elizabeth, also in some of the tidal rivers near East London' (Ref. 118212). Known along southern African coast (Ref. 188, 7248, 118219) and estuaries (Ref. 6190, 118225, 118230), from the Kosi system (Ref. 118231, 118239), Lake Saint Lucia (Ref. 36761, 118231, 118233) and Lake Sibaya (Ref. 1666, 12501, 83366, 86423, 118223) south to at least Knysna (Ref. 3259), also Saldanha Bay and as far north as the Olifants River on the west coast (Ref. 7248, 52193), possibly north to Orange River mouth (Ref. 188, 3259). Also known from lower parts of rivers (Ref. 3259), including Kowie River (Ref. 118239), Kariega River (Ref. 118239), Buffalo River (Ref. 3259, 118219), Swartkops River (Ref. 2637, 3259, 118212), Breede River (Ref. 93592), Kars River (Ref. 93592), Klein River (Ref. 93592) and Verlorenvlei (Ref. 93592, 118239), and Lake Cubhu (Ref. 118240). Also Ref. 615, 1953, 12484, 36031, 58350, 80059, 93596.