Sandy soils in the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo biomes. Recorded from a wide variety of vegetation types, most commonly in Renosterveld, Fynbos and Strandveld Succulent Karoo. Common in parks, gardens and cultivated lands, readily invade lawns and golf courses. Also forages on beaches, presumably for amphipods and isopods associated with kelp wracks (Bennett and Spinks 1995, Bronner 2013). Coexists with A. hottentotus at Stellenbosch, but prefers drier, sandier soils (Broom 1907).

This species is endemic to South Africa. Ranges from the Cape Peninsula (Western Cape) south-eastwards across Cape Flats to Bredasdorp, Swellendam, possibly as far as Knysna; and northwards along the Atlantic coast to Port Nolloth in Northern Cape. Occurs inland to Ceres, Worcester, Sutherland and Stellenbosch in the south, and Calvinia, Garies and Kamieskroon in the north, but does not penetrate the arid Karoo. One specimen (type of C. damarensis) recorded from Damaraland in Namibia is probably a misidentified specimen from Little Namaqualand (Meester et al. 1986).