Native to Africa, Palmqvist’s Notho can typically be found in parts of southern Kenya and Tanzania. These fish tend to inhabit bodies of temporary water such as pools in floodplains, swamps and ditches. The males of this species are usually more colorful than the females, displaying vibrant red coloration on the caudal fin and a reddish hue on the rear half of the body. In both sexes, the overall body coloration is often silver or gray and there is red spotting and banding on the dorsal and anal fins. Some specimens also exhibit a yellowish hue on the head as well as the dorsal and anal fins.