This species was described from Cebu Island (Philippines) by Sowerby in 1842. According to Poppe et al. (2012) it is confused with two other species: Anixa zebuensis and A. magista. There are old records from Mollendorf (1890) around Dalaguette, on the southeast side of Cebu, whereas Poppe et al. (2012) recorded live specimens from Argoa, a little further north on Cebu. Poppe et al. (2012) report that this species is rare and has never been found in abundance.
