This species is an Eastern Pacific endemic deepwater catshark ranging along the west coast of North America from Washington to the Gulf of California.

[2] Nothing was known of its abundance or population structure as of 2003, but it was reported to be fairly common, being one of the most commonly encountered cartilaginous fishes in the annual West Coast Grounfish Bottom Trawl Survey from 2003 to 2011.

[1] Adults are epibenthic and found near areas of rocky vertical relief over soft mud bottoms on the outer continental shelf and upper slope at depths of 91 to 1,251 m.[1] Juveniles are mesopelagic, found around 500 m off the bottom in waters over 1,000 m deep.

[citation needed] Reaches a maximum size of 61 cm TL.

[1] An oviparous species, females deposit eggcases throughout the year with concentrated reproductive output July through September.